Methods, apparatus, systems and procedures for supporting multicast transmission

ABSTRACT

Methods, apparatus, systems and procedures to manage a multicast communication to a multicast group implemented by a respective wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) of WTRUs in the multicast group are disclosed. One representative method includes receiving, by the respective WTRU of the multicast group, a configuration, the configuration indicating a Random Access Channel (RACH) preamble to use for a negative acknowledgement (NACK) response to a multicast transmission to the respective WTRU, monitoring, by the respective WTRU, for data of the multicast transmission, determining, by the respective WTRU, whether the monitored for data was successfully received; and on condition that the monitored for data was not successfully received, sending, by the respective WTRU, the RACH preamble indicated by the received configuration.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No.62/454,297, filed Feb. 3, 2017, U.S. Provisional Application No.62/416,410, filed Nov. 2, 2016, U.S. Provisional Application No.62/376,981, filed Aug. 19, 2016, and U.S. Provisional Application No.62/339,565, filed May 20, 2016, the contents of each being incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of communications and, moreparticularly, to methods, apparatus and systems supporting MulticastTransmission (MT).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more detailed understanding may be had from the Detailed Descriptionbelow, given by way of example in conjunction with drawings appendedhereto. Figures in such drawings, like the detailed description, areexamples. As such, the Figures and the detailed description are not tobe considered limiting, and other equally effective examples arepossible and likely. Furthermore, like reference numerals in the Figuresindicate like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating an example communications systemin which one or more disclosed embodiments may be implemented;

FIG. 2 is a system diagram illustrating an example wirelesstransmit/receive unit (WTRU) that may be used within the communicationssystem illustrated in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a system diagram illustrating an example radio access networkand another example core network that may be used within thecommunications system illustrated in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a system diagram illustrating another example radio accessnetwork and another example core network that may be used within thecommunications system illustrated in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 is a system diagram illustrating a further example radio accessnetwork and a further example core network that may be used within thecommunications system illustrated in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of preamble transmission toindicate a negative acknowledgement (NACK);

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of preamble transmission toindicate a discontinuous transmission (DTX);

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating another example of preambletransmission to indicate a NACK;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of preamble transmission toindicate a NACK with Coverage Enhancement (CE) level repetition;

FIG. 10 is a diagram of a representative on-demand broadcast/multicast(B/M) transmission;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a preamble based NACKand/or DTX indication;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a representative method of managing amulticast communication;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating another representative method ofmanaging a multicast communication;

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a further representative method ofmanaging a multicast communication;

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a representative method of configuringa WTRU;

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a representative method of configuringa WTRU in a paging mode;

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a representative method for serving aplurality of WTRUs; and

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a representative method of receptionof an on-demand broadcast and/or multicast (B/M) transmission.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A detailed description of illustrative embodiments may now be describedwith reference to the figures. However, while the present invention maybe described in connection with representative embodiments, it is notlimited thereto and it is to be understood that other embodiments may beused or modifications and additions may be made to the describedembodiments for performing the same function of the present inventionwithout deviating therefrom.

Although the representative embodiments are generally shown hereafterusing wireless network architectures, any number of different networkarchitectures may be used including networks with wired componentsand/or wireless components, for example.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example communications system 100 inwhich one or more disclosed embodiments may be implemented. Thecommunications system 100 may be a multiple access system that providescontent, such as voice, data, video, messaging, broadcast, etc., tomultiple wireless users. The communications system 100 may enablemultiple wireless users to access such content through the sharing ofsystem resources, including wireless bandwidth. For example, thecommunications systems 100 may employ one or more channel accessmethods, such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time divisionmultiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA),orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), single-carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA), and the like.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the communications system 100 may include wirelesstransmit/receive units (WTRUs) 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d, a radioaccess network (RAN) 104, a core network 106/107/109, a public switchedtelephone network (PSTN) 108, the Internet 110, and other networks 112,though it will be appreciated that the disclosed embodiments contemplateany number of WTRUs, base stations, networks, and/or network elements.Each of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d may be any type of deviceconfigured to operate and/or communicate in a wireless environment. Byway of example, the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d, which may bereferred to as a “station” and/or a “STA”, may be configured to transmitand/or receive wireless signals and may include user equipment (UE), amobile station, a fixed or mobile subscriber unit, a pager, a cellulartelephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone, a laptop, anetbook, a personal computer, a wireless sensor, consumer electronics,machine type communications (MTC) devices and the like. The WTRU 102 a,102 b, 102 c and 102 d is interchangeably referred to as a WTRU herein.

The communications systems 100 may also include a base station 114 aand/or a base station 114 b. Each of the base stations 114 a, 114 b maybe any type of device configured to wirelessly interface with at leastone of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d to facilitate access to oneor more communication networks, such as the core network 106/107/109,the Internet 110, and/or the other networks 112. By way of example, thebase stations 114 a, 114 b may be a base transceiver station (BTS), aNode-B, an eNode B, a Home Node B, a Home eNode B, a site controller, anaccess point (AP), a wireless router, and the like. While the basestations 114 a, 114 b are each depicted as a single element, it will beappreciated that the base stations 114 a, 114 b may include any numberof interconnected base stations and/or network elements.

The base station 114 a may be part of the RAN 103/104/105, which mayalso include other base stations and/or network elements (not shown),such as a base station controller (BSC), a radio network controller(RNC), relay nodes, etc. The base station 114 a and/or the base station114 b may be configured to transmit and/or receive wireless signalswithin a particular geographic region, which may be referred to as acell (not shown). The cell may further be divided into cell sectors. Forexample, the cell associated with the base station 114 a may be dividedinto three sectors. Thus, in one embodiment, the base station 114 a mayinclude three transceivers, i.e., one for each sector of the cell. Inanother embodiment, the base station 114 a may employ multiple-inputmultiple output (MIMO) technology and may utilize multiple transceiversfor each sector of the cell.

The base stations 114 a, 114 b may communicate with one or more of theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d over an air interface 115/116/117,which may be any suitable wireless communication link (e.g., radiofrequency (RF), microwave, infrared (IR), ultraviolet (UV), visiblelight, etc.). The air interface 115/116/117 may be established using anysuitable radio access technology (RAT).

More specifically, as noted above, the communications system 100 may bea multiple access system and may employ one or more channel accessschemes, such as CDMA, TDMA, FDMA, OFDMA, SC-FDMA, and the like. Forexample, the base station 114 a in the RAN 103/104/105 and the WTRUs 102a, 102 b, 102 c may implement a radio technology such as UniversalMobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA),which may establish the air interface 115/116/117 using wideband CDMA(WCDMA). WCDMA may include communication protocols such as High-SpeedPacket Access (HSPA) and/or Evolved HSPA (HSPA+). HSPA may includeHigh-Speed Downlink (DL) Packet Access (HSDPA) and/or High-Speed ULPacket Access (HSUPA).

In another embodiment, the base station 114 a and the WTRUs 102 a, 102b, 102 c may implement a radio technology such as Evolved UMTSTerrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA), which may establish the air interface115/116/117 using Long Term Evolution (LTE) and/or LTE-Advanced (LTE-A).

In other embodiments, the base station 114 a and the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b,102 c may implement radio technologies such as IEEE 802.11 (i.e.,Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), IEEE 802.16 (i.e., Worldwide Interoperabilityfor Microwave Access (WiMAX)), CDMA2000, CDMA2000 1×, CDMA2000 EV-DO,Interim Standard 2000 (IS-2000), Interim Standard 95 (IS-95), InterimStandard 856 (IS-856), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM),Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), GSM EDGE (GERAN), and thelike.

The base station 114 b in FIG. 1 may be a wireless router, Home Node B,Home eNode B, or access point, for example, and may utilize any suitableRAT for facilitating wireless connectivity in a localized area, such asa place of business, a home, a vehicle, a campus, and the like. In oneembodiment, the base station 114 b and the WTRUs 102 c, 102 d mayimplement a radio technology such as IEEE 802.11 to establish a wirelesslocal area network (WLAN). In another embodiment, the base station 114 band the WTRUs 102 c, 102 d may implement a radio technology such as IEEE802.15 to establish a wireless personal area network (WPAN). In yetanother embodiment, the base station 114 b and the WTRUs 102 c, 102 dmay utilize a cellular-based RAT (e.g., WCDMA, CDMA2000, GSM, LTE,LTE-A, etc.) to establish a picocell or femtocell. As shown in FIG. 1 ,the base station 114 b may have a direct connection to the Internet 110.Thus, the base station 114 b may not be required to access the Internet110 via the core network 106/107/109.

The RAN 103/104/105 may be in communication with the core network106/107/109, which may be any type of network configured to providevoice, data, applications, and/or voice over internet protocol (VoIP)services to one or more of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d. Forexample, the core network 106/107/109 may provide call control, billingservices, mobile location-based services, pre-paid calling, Internetconnectivity, video distribution, etc., and/or perform high-levelsecurity functions, such as user authentication. Although not shown inFIG. 1 , it will be appreciated that the RAN 103/104/105 and/or the corenetwork 106/107/109 may be in direct or indirect communication withother RANs that employ the same RAT as the RAN 103/104/105 or adifferent RAT. For example, in addition to being connected to the RAN103/104/105, which may be utilizing an E-UTRA radio technology, the corenetwork 106/107/109 may also be in communication with another RAN (notshown) employing a GSM, UMTS, CDMA 2000, WiMAX, or WiFi radiotechnology.

The core network 106/107/109 may also serve as a gateway for the WTRUs102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d to access the PSTN 108, the Internet 110,and/or the other networks 112. The PSTN 108 may include circuit-switchedtelephone networks that provide plain old telephone service (POTS). TheInternet 110 may include a global system of interconnected computernetworks and devices that use common communication protocols, such asthe transmission control protocol (TCP), user datagram protocol (UDP)and/or the internet protocol (IP) in the TCP/IP internet protocol suite.The networks 112 may include wired and/or wireless communicationsnetworks owned and/or operated by other service providers. For example,the networks 112 may include another core network connected to one ormore RANs, which may employ the same RAT as the RAN 103/104/105 or adifferent RAT.

Some or all of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d in thecommunications system 100 may include multi-mode capabilities (e.g., theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d may include multiple transceivers forcommunicating with different wireless networks over different wirelesslinks). For example, the WTRU 102 c shown in FIG. 1 may be configured tocommunicate with the base station 114 a, which may employ acellular-based radio technology, and with the base station 114 b, whichmay employ an IEEE 802 radio technology.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram illustrating an example WTRU 102. As shown inFIG. 2 , the WTRU 102 may include a processor 118, a transceiver 120, atransmit/receive element 122, a speaker/microphone 124, a keypad 126, adisplay/touchpad 128, non-removable memory 130, removable memory 132, apower source 134, a global positioning system (GPS) chipset 136, and/orother peripherals 138, among others. It will be appreciated that theWTRU 102 may include any sub-combination of the foregoing elements whileremaining consistent with an embodiment.

The processor 118 may be a general purpose processor, a special purposeprocessor, a conventional processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), aplurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in associationwith a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, Application SpecificIntegrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGAs)circuits, any other type of integrated circuit (IC), a state machine,and the like. The processor 118 may perform signal coding, dataprocessing, power control, input/output processing, and/or any otherfunctionality that enables the WTRU 102 to operate in a wirelessenvironment. The processor 118 may be coupled to the transceiver 120,which may be coupled to the transmit/receive element 122. While FIG. 2depicts the processor 118 and the transceiver 120 as separatecomponents, it will be appreciated that the processor 118 and thetransceiver 120 may be integrated together in an electronic package orchip.

The transmit/receive element 122 may be configured to transmit signalsto, or receive signals from, a base station (e.g., the base station 114a) over the air interface 115/116/117. For example, in one embodiment,the transmit/receive element 122 may be an antenna configured totransmit and/or receive RF signals. In another embodiment, thetransmit/receive element 122 may be an emitter/detector configured totransmit and/or receive IR, UV, or visible light signals, for example.In yet another embodiment, the transmit/receive element 122 may beconfigured to transmit and/or receive both RF and light signals. It willbe appreciated that the transmit/receive element 122 may be configuredto transmit and/or receive any combination of wireless signals.

Although the transmit/receive element 122 is depicted in FIG. 2 as asingle element, the WTRU 102 may include any number of transmit/receiveelements 122. More specifically, the WTRU 102 may employ MIMOtechnology. Thus, in one embodiment, the WTRU 102 may include two ormore transmit/receive elements 122 (e.g., multiple antennas) fortransmitting and receiving wireless signals over the air interface115/116/117.

The transceiver 120 may be configured to modulate the signals that areto be transmitted by the transmit/receive element 122 and to demodulatethe signals that are received by the transmit/receive element 122. Asnoted above, the WTRU 102 may have multi-mode capabilities. Thus, thetransceiver 120 may include multiple transceivers for enabling the WTRU102 to communicate via multiple RATs, such as UTRA and IEEE 802.11, forexample.

The processor 118 of the WTRU 102 may be coupled to, and may receiveuser input data from, the speaker/microphone 124, the keypad 126, and/orthe display/touchpad 128 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) displayunit or organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display unit). The processor118 may also output user data to the speaker/microphone 124, the keypad126, and/or the display/touchpad 128. In addition, the processor 118 mayaccess information from, and store data in, any type of suitable memory,such as the non-removable memory 130 and/or the removable memory 132.The non-removable memory 130 may include random access memory (RAM),read-only memory (ROM), a hard disk, or any other type of memory storagedevice. The removable memory 132 may include a subscriber identitymodule (SIM) card, a memory stick, a secure digital (SD) memory card,and the like. In other embodiments, the processor 118 may accessinformation from, and store data in, memory that is not physicallylocated on the WTRU 102, such as on a server or a home computer (notshown).

The processor 118 may receive power from the power source 134, and maybe configured to distribute and/or control the power to the othercomponents in the WTRU 102. The power source 134 may be any suitabledevice for powering the WTRU 102. For example, the power source 134 mayinclude one or more dry cell batteries (e.g., nickel-cadmium (NiCd),nickel-zinc (NiZn), nickel metal hydride (NiMH), lithium-ion (Li-ion),etc.), solar cells, fuel cells, and the like.

The processor 118 may also be coupled to the GPS chipset 136, which maybe configured to provide location information (e.g., longitude andlatitude) regarding the current location of the WTRU 102. In additionto, or in lieu of, the information from the GPS chipset 136, the WTRU102 may receive location information over the air interface 115/116/117from a base station (e.g., base stations 114 a, 114 b) and/or determineits location based on the timing of the signals being received from twoor more nearby base stations. It will be appreciated that the WTRU 102may acquire location information by way of any suitablelocation-determination method while remaining consistent with anembodiment.

The processor 118 may further be coupled to other peripherals 138, whichmay include one or more software and/or hardware modules that provideadditional features, functionality and/or wired or wirelessconnectivity. For example, the peripherals 138 may include anaccelerometer, an e-compass, a satellite transceiver, a digital camera(for photographs and/or video), a universal serial bus (USB) port, avibration device, a television transceiver, a hands free headset, aBluetooth® module, a frequency modulated (FM) radio unit, a digitalmusic player, a media player, a video game player module, an Internetbrowser, and the like.

The WTRU 102 may include a full duplex radio for which transmission andreception of some or all of the signals (e.g., associated withparticular subframes for both the UL (e.g., for transmission) anddownlink (e.g., for reception)) may be concurrent and/or simultaneous.The full duplex radio may include an interference management unit 139 toreduce and or substantially eliminate self-interference via eitherhardware (e.g., a choke) or signal processing via a processor (e.g., aseparate processor (not shown) or via processor 118).

FIG. 3 is a system diagram illustrating the RAN 103 and the core network106 according to another embodiment. As noted above, the RAN 103 mayemploy a UTRA radio technology to communicate with the WTRUs 102 a, 102b, 102 c over the air interface 115. The RAN 103 may also be incommunication with the core network 106. As shown in FIG. 3 , the RAN103 may include Node-Bs 140 a, 140 b, 140 c, which may each include oneor more transceivers for communicating with the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102c over the air interface 115. The Node-Bs 140 a, 140 b, 140 c may eachbe associated with a particular cell (not shown) within the RAN 103. TheRAN 103 may also include RNCs 142 a, 142 b. It will be appreciated thatthe RAN 103 may include any number of Node-Bs and RNCs while remainingconsistent with an embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the Node-Bs 140 a, 140 b may be in communicationwith the RNC 142 a. Additionally, the Node-B 140 c may be incommunication with the RNC 142 b. The Node-Bs 140 a, 140 b, 140 c maycommunicate with the respective RNCs 142 a, 142 b via an Iub interface.The RNCs 142 a, 142 b may be in communication with one another via anIur interface. Each of the RNCs 142 a, 142 b may be configured tocontrol the respective Node-Bs 140 a, 140 b, 140 c to which it isconnected. In addition, each of the RNCs 142 a, 142 b may be configuredto carry out or support other functionality, such as outer loop powercontrol, load control, admission control, packet scheduling, handovercontrol, macrodiversity, security functions, data encryption, and thelike.

The core network 106 shown in FIG. 3 may include a media gateway (MGW)144, a mobile switching center (MSC) 146, a serving GPRS support node(SGSN) 148, and/or a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) 150. While each ofthe foregoing elements are depicted as part of the core network 106, itwill be appreciated that any one of these elements may be owned and/oroperated by an entity other than the core network operator.

The RNC 142 a in the RAN 103 may be connected to the MSC 146 in the corenetwork 106 via an IuCS interface. The MSC 146 may be connected to theMGW 144. The MSC 146 and the MGW 144 may provide the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b,102 c with access to circuit-switched networks, such as the PSTN 108, tofacilitate communications between the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c andtraditional land-line communications devices.

The RNC 142 a in the RAN 103 may also be connected to the SGSN 148 inthe core network 106 via an IuPS interface. The SGSN 148 may beconnected to the GGSN 150. The SGSN 148 and the GGSN 150 may provide theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c with access to packet-switched networks, suchas the Internet 110, to facilitate communications between and the WTRUs102 a, 102 b, 102 c and IP-enabled devices.

As noted above, the core network 106 may also be connected to the othernetworks 112, which may include other wired and/or wireless networksthat are owned and/or operated by other service providers.

FIG. 4 is a system diagram illustrating the RAN 104 and the core network107 according to an embodiment. As noted above, the RAN 104 may employan E-UTRA radio technology to communicate with the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b,102 c over the air interface 116. The RAN 104 may also be incommunication with the core network 107.

The RAN 104 may include eNode-Bs 160 a, 160 b, 160 c, though it will beappreciated that the RAN 104 may include any number of eNode-Bs whileremaining consistent with an embodiment. The eNode-Bs 160 a, 160 b, 160c may each include one or more transceivers for communicating with theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c over the air interface 116. In one embodiment,the eNode-Bs 160 a, 160 b, 160 c may implement MIMO technology. Thus,the eNode-B 160 a, for example, may use multiple antennas to transmitwireless signals to, and/or receive wireless signals from, the WTRU 102a.

Each of the eNode-Bs 160 a, 160 b, and 160 c may be associated with aparticular cell (not shown) and may be configured to handle radioresource management decisions, handover decisions, scheduling of usersin the uplink (UL) and/or downlink (DL), and the like. As shown in FIG.4 , the eNode-Bs 160 a, 160 b, 160 c may communicate with one anotherover an X2 interface.

The core network 107 shown in FIG. 4 may include a mobility managemententity (MME) 162, a serving gateway (SGW) 164, and a packet data network(PDN) gateway (or PGW) 166. While each of the foregoing elements aredepicted as part of the core network 107, it will be appreciated thatany of these elements may be owned and/or operated by an entity otherthan the core network operator.

The MME 162 may be connected to each of the eNode-Bs 160 a, 160 b, and160 c in the RAN 104 via an S1 interface and may serve as a controlnode. For example, the MME 162 may be responsible for authenticatingusers of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, bearer activation/deactivation,selecting a particular serving gateway during an initial attach of theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, and the like. The MME 162 may provide acontrol plane function for switching between the RAN 104 and other RANs(not shown) that employ other radio technologies, such as GSM and/orWCDMA.

The serving gateway 164 may be connected to each of the eNode Bs 160 a,160 b, 160 c in the RAN 104 via the S1 interface. The serving gateway164 may generally route and forward user data packets to/from the WTRUs102 a, 102 b, 102 c. The serving gateway 164 may perform otherfunctions, such as anchoring user planes during inter-eNode B handovers,triggering paging when DL data is available for the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b,102 c, managing and storing contexts of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c,and the like.

The serving gateway 164 may be connected to the PDN gateway 166, whichmay provide the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c with access to packet-switchednetworks, such as the Internet 110, to facilitate communications betweenthe WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c and IP-enabled devices.

The core network 107 may facilitate communications with other networks.For example, the core network 107 may provide the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b,102 c with access to circuit-switched networks, such as the PSTN 108, tofacilitate communications between the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c andtraditional land-line communications devices. For example, the corenetwork 107 may include, or may communicate with, an IP gateway (e.g.,an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) server) that serves as an interfacebetween the core network 107 and the PSTN 108. In addition, the corenetwork 107 may provide the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c with access to theother networks 112, which may include other wired and/or wirelessnetworks that are owned and/or operated by other service providers.

FIG. 5 is a system diagram illustrating the RAN 105 and the core network109 according to an embodiment. The RAN 105 may be an access servicenetwork (ASN) that employs IEEE 802.16 radio technology to communicatewith the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, and 102 c over the air interface 117. Aswill be further discussed below, the communication links between thedifferent functional entities of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, the RAN105, and the core network 109 may be defined as reference points.

As shown in FIG. 5 , the RAN 105 may include base stations 180 a, 180 b,180 c, and an ASN gateway 182, though it will be appreciated that theRAN 105 may include any number of base stations and ASN gateways whileremaining consistent with an embodiment. The base stations 180 a, 180 b,180 c may each be associated with a particular cell (not shown) in theRAN 105 and may each include one or more transceivers for communicatingwith the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c over the air interface 117. In oneembodiment, the base stations 180 a, 180 b, 180 c may implement MIMOtechnology. The base station 180 a, for example, may use multipleantennas to transmit wireless signals to, and/or receive wirelesssignals from, the WTRU 102 a. The base stations 180 a, 180 b, 180 c mayalso provide mobility management functions, such as handoff triggering,tunnel establishment, radio resource management, traffic classification,quality of service (QoS) policy enforcement, and the like. The ASNgateway 182 may serve as a traffic aggregation point and may beresponsible for paging, caching of subscriber profiles, routing to thecore network 109, and the like.

The air interface 117 between the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c and the RAN105 may be defined as an R1 reference point that implements the IEEE802.16 specification. In addition, each of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, and102 c may establish a logical interface (not shown) with the corenetwork 109. The logical interface between the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 cand the core network 109 may be defined as an R2 reference point, whichmay be used for authentication, authorization, IP host configurationmanagement, and/or mobility management.

The communication link between each of the base stations 180 a, 180 b,and 180 c may be defined as an R8 reference point that includesprotocols for facilitating WTRU handovers and the transfer of databetween base stations. The communication link between the base stations180 a, 180 b, 180 c and the ASN gateway 182 may be defined as an R6reference point. The R6 reference point may include protocols forfacilitating mobility management based on mobility events associatedwith each of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c.

As shown in FIG. 5 , the RAN 105 may be connected to the core network109. The communication link between the RAN 105 and the core network 109may be defined as an R3 reference point that includes protocols forfacilitating data transfer and mobility management capabilities, forexample. The core network 109 may include a mobile IP home agent(MIP-HA) 184, an authentication, authorization, accounting (AAA) server186, and a gateway 188. While each of the foregoing elements aredepicted as part of the core network 109, it will be appreciated thatany of these elements may be owned and/or operated by an entity otherthan the core network operator.

The MIP-HA 184 may be responsible for IP address management, and mayenable the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, and 102 c to roam between different ASNsand/or different core networks. The MIP-HA 184 may provide the WTRUs 102a, 102 b, 102 c with access to packet-switched networks, such as theInternet 110, to facilitate communications between the WTRUs 102 a, 102b, 102 c and IP-enabled devices. The AAA server 186 may be responsiblefor user authentication and for supporting user services. The gateway188 may facilitate interworking with other networks. For example, thegateway 188 may provide the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c with access tocircuit-switched networks, such as the PSTN 108, to facilitatecommunications between the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c and traditionalland-line communications devices. The gateway 188 may provide the WTRUs102 a, 102 b, 102 c with access to the other networks 112, which mayinclude other wired and/or wireless networks that are owned and/oroperated by other service providers.

Although not shown in FIG. 5 , it will be appreciated that the RAN 105may be connected to other ASNs, other RANS (e.g., RANs 103 and/or 104)and/or the core network 109 may be connected to other core networks(e.g., core network 106 and/or 107). The communication link between theRAN 105 and the other ASNs may be defined as an R4 reference point,which may include protocols for coordinating the mobility of the WTRUs102 a, 102 b, 102 c between the RAN 105 and the other ASNs. Thecommunication link between the core network 109 and the other corenetworks may be defined as an R5 reference, which may include protocolsfor facilitating interworking between home core networks and visitedcore networks.

Although the WTRU is described in FIGS. 1-5 as a wireless terminal, itis contemplated that in certain representative embodiments that such aterminal may use (e.g., temporarily or permanently) wired communicationinterfaces with the communication network.

Although various representative networks are described herein,representative embodiments are equally applicable to other networksincluding 5G and 5G interworking networks. It is contemplated that incertain representative network architectures, eNode-Bs, network accesspoints, radio heads and/or other network entities, among others may bepower conserving devices and/or thin client (e.g., thin resource) typedevices.

Although different network devices are shown including an eNode-B, it iscontemplated that other devices may be equally applicable such as a gNB,for example in a 5G network architecture.

With new applications emerging for cellular technology, such as smartwatches, alarm reporting, automotive safety, and/or factory processcontrol, the use and/or importance of machine type communications (MTC)has rapidly increased. The growing popularity of the Internet of Things(IoT) is expected to increase (e.g., greatly increase) the density ofMTC devices per geographic area. In an environment populated (e.g.,densely populated) with cellular devices, use of MTs may be implemented,appropriate and/or desirable for increasing spectrum efficiency forservices, applications, and/or maintenance that may be applicable tomultiple devices. For example, software (SW) and/or firmware (FW)upgrades over the air may allow deployed devices to receive patchesand/or SW upgrades (e.g., without in-field device replacement). Use ofMTs may improve the spectrum efficiency for SW/FW upgrades, for example,by enabling a multitude of devices to receive the upgrade at the sametime using the same transmission resources.

In certain representative embodiments, methods, apparatus and proceduresmay be implemented to provide for SW downloads over, for example, thePhysical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) that may be for Internetdevices, for example Narrow Band (NB) Internet devices (e.g., IoTdevices and/or MTC devices, among others).

In certain representative embodiments, methods, apparatus and proceduresmay be implemented to provide NACK/DTX feedback, for example, for MT.

In certain representative embodiments, a preamble (e.g., a sequence)and/or a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) transmission may be usedto indicate a NACK (e.g., using timing from the transmission to knowand/or determine when to send the NACK).

In certain representative embodiments, a preamble (e.g., a sequence)and/or a PRACH transmission may be used to indicate a NACK for aspecific data block or to indicate, for example, a missed transmission(DTX) (e.g., a specific preamble or resources may be used to indicate aspecific data block or specific data blocks). A data block may be atransport block (TB).

In certain representative embodiments, a sequence number may beprovided, included, indicated and/or added in a Downlink ControlInformation (DCI) such that a WTRU 102 may know and/or may determinewhat packets, data blocks, TBs, and/or information is or was missedbased on sequence numbers (e.g., sequence numbers of data blocks, TBs,packets and/or information that is received). A packet may be or mayinclude one or more data blocks or TBs.

In certain representative embodiments, blocks or sets of transmissionsmay be scheduled such that a WTRU 102 may know and/or may determine whatpackets, data blocks, TBs, and/or information is or was missed based onthe schedule.

In certain representative embodiments, the preamble and/ortime-frequency (TF) resources for use with NACK/DTX feedback may bedetermined.

In certain representative embodiments, paging for MT, for example for SWupdating, may be implemented.

In certain representative embodiments, a control channel or a datachannel may include a flag (e.g., a MT flag), for example, to indicatean upcoming MT and the WTRU 102 may receive the MT in response toreceipt of the flag. The control channel or the data channel may beassociated with a page and the WTRU 102 may receive the MT in responseto receipt of the page.

In certain representative embodiments, the SW version may be indicatedor included in the MT (e.g., and/or may be indicated or included in theassociated DCI) and the WTRU 102 may receive one or more MTs based onwhether the SW version is newer than a current version (e.g., stored,loaded and/or executing on the WTRU 102).

In certain representative embodiments, a CE level may be implemented,for example, for use with NACK/DTX procedures. Separate resources may beused for different CE levels and/or different CE levels may be indicatedby different/separate resources.

In certain representative embodiments, the WTRU 102 may transmit at aparticular power for the NACK/DTX (e.g., at a maximum power and/or apredefined power, among others).

In certain representative embodiments, the CE level and a configurationfor MT may be implemented (e.g., and/or provided to the WTRU 102). Forexample, the WTRU in connected mode may be configured with a CE level touse and the WTRU in idle mode may determine the CE level from ameasurement or control channel decoding. As another example, in idlemode, the WTRU 102 may do and/or execute a Random Access (RA) procedureto indicate a current CE level (e.g., to the network) and a new SWdownload cause for (e.g., and/or in) a RRC connection request.

In certain representative embodiments, the CE Level for MT may be basedon a WTRU identifier (e.g., WTRU ID). For example, for WTRUs 102 toreceive a SW update, a network (e.g., serving the WTRUs 102) mayindicate identifiers (e.g., the WTRU IDs). An eNode-B 160 may use theWTRU IDs to get and/or obtain CE levels to determine a CE level to usefor the MT to one or more of the WTRUs 102.

In certain representative embodiments, a request (e.g., by the networkto the WTRUs 102) for interest in the SW download may be implemented.Some WTRUs such as connected WTRUs 102 may use RRC signaling for therequest/reply. Some other WTRUs such as idle WTRUs 102 may use paging(e.g., paging procedures) for the request, may use RA to connect and/orto send the reply. In certain representative embodiments, the reply maybe and/or may use one or more configured preambles and/or TF resourcesthat the WTRU may use to indicate interest. For example, the request forthe SW download may provide the available version, e.g., in a DCI, toenable the WTRU to determine interest in the SW download.

In certain representative embodiments, broadcast or MT requestprocedures may be implemented. For example, at least some SystemInformation (SI) (e.g., SI Blocks (SIBs)) may not be transmitted (e.g.,unless requested and/or needed). In certain examples, a preamble (e.g.,a PRACH preamble) may be used to make the request (e.g., fortransmission of SI, one or more SIBs or another MT such as a SWdownload). Separate preambles or resources may be implemented fordifferent transmissions and/or different transmission types (TTypes)(e.g., for different types such as SI and SW download and/or fordifferent SI and/or different SIBs) and/or according to CE mode orlevel.

In certain representative embodiments, paging procedures may beimplemented to indicate broadcast or MT. For example, a page mayindicate a SI transmission (e.g., with or without SI modification) mayoccur. In certain representative embodiments, a separate indicatorand/or value tag may indicate transmission vs. modification (for examplethe transmission with SI modification or the transmission without SImodification.) A configured transmission period (e.g., that may be thesame or different from a system information modification period) is aperiod during which system information may be transmitted (e.g.,potentially may be transmitted). For example, WTRUs 102 may be paged toindicate that system information may be or is to be transmitted in anupcoming (e.g., next) transmission period.

In certain representative embodiments, a random access connectionrequest may indicate a request for broadcast/multicast information. Forexample, a preamble or a PRACH may be used to indicate a random accessrequest that may be intended for connection request. An RA Response(RAR) (e.g., a RA msg2) may include SI. The RAR may include or bedivided into common and WTRU-specific contents and the SI may be in thecommon contents. In certain examples, the connection setup message mayinclude system information.

A MT may be used and/or considered for services or applications (e.g.,in the downlink) that may not need or use feedback from the receivingdevices confirming successful reception, for example in TV broadcast, ineMBMS, and/or in advertising, among others. For MT where it may beappropriate that the WTRU or device successfully receives thetransmission, for example for a SW/FW upgrade, feedback from thereceiving devices may be used and/or appropriate. For example, thefeedback may use a mechanism whereby a transmission (e.g., eachtransmission and/or group of transmissions) may be acknowledged by eachdevice. Having a multitude of devices individually send an ACK or a NACKfor a transmission (e.g., each transmission and/or group oftransmissions) may result in inefficiencies and wasted air interfaceresources.

In certain representative embodiments, alternative procedures and/orapparatus may be used to enable feedback (e.g., limited feedback).

In an environment where some devices may be coverage limited and/or useCE techniques, such as repetition, a MT may accommodate or may need toaccommodate multiple levels of coverage, for example to ensure thedevice with the worst coverage receives the transmission. Proceduresand/or apparatus may be used to determine the coverage (e.g., CE) levelor levels at which to make the MT, for example to support the devicesreceiving the transmission without wasting resources for coverage thatmay not be appropriate and/or needed.

A WTRU 102 may receive a MT, configuration of a MT, and/or an indicationof a MT, for example from an eNode-B 160. The MT may be a transmissionintended for a set or group of one or more WTRUs 102. The MT may be ormay include a data channel such as a downlink (DL) data channel.Examples of a DL data channel may include, but are not limited to,PDSCH, MTC PDSCH (mPDSCH), short PDSCH or short-TTI PDSCH (sPDSCH),and/or Narrow Band PDSCH (NB-PDSCH), among others. Data and/or controlinformation may be carried by a data channel.

The MT may be or may include a control channel that may be carried by adata channel. The MT may be or may include a control channel, e.g., a DLcontrol channel, such as a PDCCH, an enhanced PDCCH (ePDCCH), a MTCPDCCH (mPDCCH), a Narrow Band PDCCH (NB-PDCCH), and/or a short orshort-TTI PDCCH (sPDCCH), among others. A multicast control channel maybe monitored with a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI), e.g., aMT RNTI (MT-RNTI). The MT-RNTI may be fixed or configured (e.g., a fixedvalue or a configured value). The MT-RNTI may be configured viaWTRU-specific or cell-specific signaling (e.g., broadcast signaling).The MT-RNTI may be configured for a group of one or more WTRUs 102. Atleast one of transmission, configuration and/or indication may be by aneNode-B 160.

Although certain representative embodiments/examples set forth hereinmay include the use of MT, application of these representativeembodiments/examples may use other transmission mechanisms, such asbroadcast and/or unicast transmissions, among other (e.g., MT is only anon-limiting example). In certain representative embodiments anothertype of transmission may be applied and are still be consistent with thedisclosure herein. For example, a broadcast may be substituted for amulticast (e.g., and vice versa) and are still be consistent with thisdisclosure. It is also contemplated that other types of transmissionsmay be used in lieu of or in addition to MTs and are still consistentwith the disclosure herein.

Although NACK feedback and DTX feedback are described with respect toMTs, it is contemplated that other forms of feedback are possible inaccordance with the disclosure herein. For example, such feedback mayinclude other forms of group feedback.

Example NACK/DTX Feedback for MT

A WTRU 102 may receive one or more data transmissions, for example froman eNode-B 160. A data transmission may be comprised of or may include aset of one or more data blocks that may be transmitted over time. A datablock, for example, may be a transport block (TB) and/or a MAC PDU. Oneor more data blocks may be transmitted per time period or transmissiontime interval (TTI). For example, a time period may be a symbol, a slot,a subframe, a set of symbols, a set of slots or a set of subframes. Adata block may be repeated in multiple time periods or TTIs, for examplewhen CE may be used. The repetitions may be combined by a receiver,e.g., by a WTRU 102, for example to receive or successfully receive thedata block. Successful reception may correspond to receiving a correctcyclic redundancy check (CRC).

The term data block may refer to one data block. The term data block maybe used to represent or refer to one or more (e.g., the combination ofone or more) repetitions of or associated with a data block that may beused to receive, decode, and/or determine the data block, e.g.,successfully. For example, repetitions of or associated with a datablock may be combined, e.g., soft-combined, to receive, decode, and/ordetermine the data block, e.g., successfully.

A MT, such as for a SW/FW download and/or a SW/FW upgrade, may becomprised of or include a set of data blocks that may be intended for agroup of one or more WTRUs 102.

A WTRU 102 may provide feedback, for example, to indicate a success orlack of success of reception of a data block from a MT. A WTRU 102 mayprovide feedback for multicast data and/or control channels. In certainrepresentative embodiments, a WTRU 102 may provide feedback (e.g., onlyprovide feedback) for multicast data channels. In certain representativeembodiments, a WTRU 102 may not provide feedback for multicast controlchannels.

In the examples and representative embodiments described herein, a TB ora PDSCH, among others may be examples of a data block. One of skill inthe art understands that other data blocks are possible while stillbeing consistent with the disclosure herein.

Representative Procedure for a WTRU to Indicate NACK Using a Preamble

A preamble may be provided and/or used for indicating a NACK. Forexample, a WTRU 102 may transmit a preamble, such as a PRACH preamble,to indicate a NACK for a data block (or a set of data blocks) that maybe a multicast data block (or a set of such data blocks). A preamblethat may be used to indicate a NACK may be referred to herein as a NACKpreamble. A WTRU 102 may transmit a preamble (e.g., a NACK preamble) toindicate that the WTRU 102 did not successfully receive a data blockand/or to indicate that the WTRU 102 did not successfully receive atleast one data block of a set of data blocks. A WTRU 102 may nottransmit an acknowledgment (ACK), for example for one or more (e.g.,any) data blocks that it may have received successfully.

A preamble (e.g., a NACK preamble) may be a signal (e.g., representing asequence) or a sequence such as a Zadoff-Chu sequence, a gold sequence,and/or an m-sequence, among others. A preamble may be an OFDM signal ora sequence (e.g., OFDM sequence) with a cyclic prefix (CP). The CPlength may be configured, for example by broadcast or dedicatedsignaling. The CP length may be configured such that WTRUs 102 near toand far from a cell center may transmit preambles (e.g., the same ororthogonal preambles) in the same TF resources such that, for example,the network (e.g., a network entity and/or an eNode-B 160) may detectthe transmitted preamble or preambles. A PRACH may be used as anon-limiting example of a signal, a channel or a set of time-resources(e.g., TF resources) that may be transmitted and/or used, for example bya WTRU 102 without a grant (e.g., a scheduling grant). A PRACH may betransmitted on one or more resources that may be configured, signaledand/or known. A PRACH may be transmitted asynchronously, for examplewith respect to a timing reference.

The term time-frequency (TF) may be used to represent time and/orfrequency. For example, a TF resource may be a resource in time and/orfrequency. Time-frequency and time/frequency may be used interchangeablyherein.

In certain examples, a first preamble may be used for a NACK from afirst set or group of WTRUs 102. A second preamble may be used for aNACK from a second set or group of WTRUs 102. The first and secondpreambles may be the same (e.g., have a common preamble) or may bedifferent.

A first TF resource (or set of TF resources) may be used for a NACK froma first set or group of WTRUs 102. A second TF resource (or set of TFresources) may be used for a NACK from a second set or group of WTRUs102. The first and second TF resources (or one or more sets of TFresources) may be the same or different.

An eNode-B 160 may provide (e.g., via a configuration that the eNode-B160 may signal) one or more preambles (e.g., one or more NACK preambles)and/or one or more TF resources on which to transmit the one or morepreambles, for example to indicate a NACK.

In certain examples, an eNode-B 160 may transmit a set of one or moredata blocks. A WTRU 102 may attempt to receive (e.g., monitor for) theone or more data blocks. The WTRU 102 may not successfully receive(e.g., may determine that the WTRU 102 did not successfully receive) atleast one of the data blocks. A WTRU 102 may transmit a preamble (e.g.,a NACK preamble), for example from the configured set of preambles, toindicate that the WTRU 102 did not successfully receive at least onedata block. The WTRU 102 may transmit, for example, the preamble (e.g.,the NACK preamble) on one or more of the configured TF resources.

A WTRU 102 may determine reception of a data block as unsuccessful, forexample when the WTRU 102 receives and/or attempts to receive the datablock and determines the CRC of the data block to be incorrect and/oranother error condition related to the data block.

A WTRU 102 may determine reception of a data block as unsuccessful whenthe WTRU 102 expects a data block or control signaling for a data block,for example at a certain time and/or frequency and does not successfullyreceive the control signaling or determines the CRC of the data block tobe incorrect.

An eNode-B 160 and/or another network entity may receive at least onepreamble that may indicate a set of one or more data blocks that may nothave been successfully received by at least one WTRU 102 (e.g., of amulticast group). The eNode-B 160 may retransmit at least one of thedata blocks that may not have been successfully received.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example preamble transmissionprocedure to indicate a NACK.

Referring to FIG. 6 , the example preamble transmission procedure 600may include, at block 610, a WTRU 102 receiving a configurationincluding or indicating NACK preambles and/or TF resources. At block620, the WTRU 102 may attempt to receive a data channel or data block ofa MT. At block 630, the WTRU 102 may determine whether the reception ofthe data channel or data block of the MT was successful. For example,the WTRU 102 may determine whether a CRC check of the data associatedwith the data channel or data block was successful. On condition thatthe WTRU 102 determines that the reception of the data channel or datablock of the MT was successful, at block 640, the processing may stopand/or the WTRU may not send an ACK or NACK indication to the eNode-B160 or other network entity. On condition that the WTRU 102 determinesthat the reception of the data channel or data block of the MT was notsuccessful, at block 650, the WTRU 102 may determine a preamble and atleast one TF resource to indicate a NACK. At block 660, the WTRU 102 maysend the determined preamble on the determined TF resource or TFresources.

For example, a WTRU 102 may use the example preamble transmission toindicate a NACK (e.g., to an eNode-B 160 and/or another network entity)for a data block of a MT. A preamble may be transmitted to indicate aNACK for a data block or for at least one data block of a set of datablocks.

Representative Procedure for the WTRU to Indicate DTX Using a Preamble Apreamble may be provided and/or used for indicating DTX. The indicationof a NACK may or may not be sufficient for an eNode-B 160 to know and/ordetermine whether a WTRU 102 received a data block successfully. Forexample, when a WTRU 102 does not receive a data block and does not knowthe WTRU 102 should have received the data block, or when the WTRU 102cannot determine that the data block has not been received, the WTRU 102may not indicate that WTRU 102 missed the data block. A missedtransmission or a set of missed transmissions may be referred to hereinas DTX or a DTX.

In certain examples, a WTRU 102 may transmit a preamble, such as a PRACHpreamble, to indicate a DTX for a data block (or a set of data blocks)that may be a multicast data block (or a set of multicast data blocks).A preamble that may be used to indicate a DTX may be referred to hereinas a DTX preamble.

A WTRU 102 may transmit a preamble (e.g., a DTX preamble) to indicatethat the WTRU 102 missed reception of a data block and/or at least onedata block of a set of data blocks. An eNode-B 160 may provide (e.g.,via a configuration that the eNode-B 160 may signal) one or morepreambles (e.g., one or more DTX preambles) and/or one or more TFresources on which to transmit the one or more preambles, for example toindicate a DTX. At least one of the preambles and/or TF resources (e.g.,resources in time and/or frequency) for indicating a NACK and a DTX maybe different. For example, different frequencies (e.g., subcarriers) maybe used. In certain representative embodiments, different preambles maybe used and/or different resources in time may be used.

In certain examples, an eNode-B 160 may transmit a set of one or moredata blocks. A WTRU 102 may determine that the WTRU 102 missed receptionof a data block (for example a data block with an identification X). TheWTRU 102 may transmit a DTX preamble, for example from the configuredset of preambles, to indicate that the WTRU 102 missed reception of thedata block. The WTRU 102 may transmit the preamble on one or more of theconfigured TF resources, for example that may be used for indicating aDTX. The WTRU 102 may transmit a preamble that may be associated withand/or configured for identifying the DTX of at least a data block withan identification X. The WTRU 102 may transmit on at least one TFresource that may be associated with and/or configured for identifyingthe DTX of at least a data block with the identification X.

A WTRU 102 may determine the identification of a missed and/or missingdata block based on an identifier (e.g., a missed sequence (e.g., block)identifier (ID) and/or sequence number (SN)). ID and SN may be usedinterchangeably herein. For example, the WTRU 102 may determine the WTRUmissed ID x if it receives ID x+1 or ID x+n, and does not receive ID x,where ID x, ID x+1 and ID x+n may be the identifiers in a set orsequence (e.g., of data blocks). The WTRU 102 may determine that a datablock has been missed and/or may be missing based on a schedule fortransmission (e.g., of a set of data blocks). For example, if (e.g., oncondition that) the WTRU 102 expects to and/or determines that the WTRU102 should receive a control channel indicating the PDSCH according to aschedule and the WTRU 102 does not receive and/or does not successfullyreceive the control channel, the WTRU 102 may determine that a datablock (e.g., a particular data block) has been missed and/or is missing.The control channel may be a DL control channel that may be received ina control region.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example preamble transmissionprocedure to indicate a DTX. [JASB] Note—I moved the text here, butaccepted the changes after the move so you can see what I changed.

Referring to FIG. 7 , the example preamble transmission procedure 700may include, at block 710, a WTRU 102 receiving a configurationincluding and/or indicating any of: one or more NACK preambles, one ormore DTX preambles and/or one or more TF resources. In a firstalternative, at block 720, the WTRU 102 may receive a schedule for a MT.In a second alternative, the WTRU may skip block 720 or may not receivea schedule for a MT. At block 730, the WTRU 102 may monitor for a MT.The WTRU 102 may monitor for the scheduled MT, for example for the firstalternative. The WTRU may, for example, monitor for a MT via a channel(e.g., a control channel or data channel or other time-frequencyaggregation, for example for a MT or multicast services). The channelmay be associated with the MT. The WTRU 102 may monitor for the channelaccording to the received schedule, for example for the firstalternative. At block 740, the WTRU 102 may determine whether the WTRU102 has missed one or more blocks (e.g., any missed blocks) of the MT.The determination may be for a period of time or for a number or set ofblocks. For example, the WTRU 102 may determine whether there are one ormore skipped sequence numbers (SNs) (e.g., any skipped SNs). Oncondition that the WTRU 102 determines that the WTRU 102 has not misseda block in the MT or that there are no missed blocks in the MT, at block750, the WTRU 102 may not send a DTX indication to the eNode-B 160 orother network entity. On condition that the WTRU 102 determines thatthere is at least one missed block in the MT, at block 760, the WTRU 102may determine a DTX preamble and TF resources to indicate a DTX of themissed block or blocks. At block 770, the WTRU 102 may send thedetermined DTX preamble on the determined TF resource or resources. Ator subsequent to operating in accordance with block 750 or 770, theprocessing may stop or the WTRU may continue monitoring for the MT(e.g., a continuation of the MT) or another MT at block 730.

For example, a WTRU 102 may use the example preamble transmission toindicate a DTX (e.g., a missed or missing transmission), e.g., to aneNode-B 160 or other network entity, for example for a data block (e.g.,a data block of a MT).

Representative Procedure for WTRU to Indicate NACK/DTX for a SpecificData Block

A data block may be associated with an identifier such as a sequencenumber (e.g., SN) that may be within a set of data blocks. A preamblemay be provided and/or used to indicate a NACK (and/or a DTX) for aspecific data block or for a sequence number (e.g., sequence identifier(ID)). A sequence number may be indicated (e.g., explicitly indicated)by or in a DL control channel or DL control information (DCI) that maybe associated with the transmission of the data block or the set of datablocks. A sequence number may be indicated (e.g., explicitly indicated)by an RNTI that may be associated with the transmission of the datablock or the set of data blocks. The RNTI may be used to scramble a DCI(e.g., the CRC of a DCI) that may be associated with the transmission ofthe data block or the set of data blocks.

A sequence number may be indicated (e.g., implicitly indicated) in a DLcontrol channel based on a DL control channel candidate. For example,one or more DL control channel candidates may be monitored by a WTRU 102to receive a DL control information and a sequence number may bedetermined (e.g., as a function of a DL control channel candidateindex). A scrambling code may be used for the DL control information andthe sequence number may be determined based on the scrambling code used.

A WTRU 102 may transmit and/or indicate a NACK (e.g., an unsuccessfulreception) or a DTX (e.g., a missed reception) for a sequence number.

A sequence ID may be or may include a HARQ process ID. A sequence ID maybe or may include a HARQ process ID and one or more additional bits. AHARQ process ID may be included in the DCI for a DL transmission and/ora DL retransmission. A sequence number and/or sequence ID may be a blocknumber and/or ID. The terms number, identifier, index, and ID, may beused interchangeably herein.

A HARQ process may be associated with a HARQ process identifier (e.g.,HARQ process ID). A HARQ process may be associated with a HARQ buffer. Abuffer (e.g., a HARQ buffer) may be, may include or may comprise a softbuffer. A soft buffer may be used for soft combining coded bits from oneor more repetitions or retransmissions of a data block (e.g., a TB ofdata). A retransmission of a data block (e.g., a TB) may include thesame or different coded bits as the original (e.g., new) transmission oranother retransmission of the data block. A buffer may be or mayrepresent memory, e.g., an amount of memory that may be in adenomination such as bits or bytes. The memory of a buffer may includeor comprise adjacent and/or non-adjacent pieces or blocks of memory.

Representative Procedure for Scheduled Data Blocks (e.g., by DCI)

A DL control channel may be transmitted for a data block (e.g., eachdata block). The DCI may include the sequence number of the PDSCH. Themaximum sequence number may be fixed or configured. For a maximum number(e.g., maximum sequence number) of 2^(n) (or 2^(n)−1), n bits may beused in the DCI to indicate the sequence number.

In certain representative embodiments, for a data block within a set ofdata blocks, whether additional data blocks are to be expected in theset or whether the data block is the last one in the set may beindicated, for example in the DCI. In certain representativeembodiments, a size of a set such as a number of blocks in a set (e.g.,a size of a data block set such as the number of data blocks in the datablock set) may be fixed or configured and that number of blocks (e.g.,data blocks) may be sent (e.g., transmitted) whether or not there may bedata to fill that number of blocks. Padded data blocks (e.g., with 0s orother values) may be sent, for example, when there may not be enoughdata (e.g., actual data) to fill the data blocks in the data block set.

A WTRU 102 may determine that the WTRU 102 does not receive (e.g.,successfully receive) a data block (e.g., a PDSCH) with a determinedsequence number. The WTRU 102 may transmit a NACK (e.g., a NACKpreamble) or a DTX (e.g., a DTX preamble) for the data block (e.g.,PDSCH). The WTRU 102 may use a preamble and/or TF resources that mayindicate a NACK or a DTX for the determined sequence number. Forexample, the WTRU 102 may determine the sequence number of a data block(e.g., a PDSCH) from an associated control channel that may include orcontain the sequence number, for example when the WTRU 102 successfullyreceives the associated control channel. The WTRU 102 may attempt toreceive a data block associated with the control channel. If the WTRU102 does not successfully receive the data block, the WTRU 102 mayindicate a NACK (or a DTX) for the data block. The WTRU 102 may use apreamble and/or TF resources that may indicate a NACK (or a DTX) for thedetermined sequence number.

In other examples, a WTRU 102 may determine that the WTRU 102 does notreceive (e.g., successfully receive) a sequence number, for examplebased on reception of a later sequence number. For example, a WTRU 102may receive a DL control channel indicating the sequence number x, butmay not receive the sequence number x-y. The WTRU 102 may transmit aNACK or a DTX for sequence number x-y. The WTRU 102 may wait a timeperiod (e.g., a threshold amount of time) after receiving the sequencenumber x before transmitting the NACK or the DTX for sequence number x-y(e.g., associated with the sequence number x-y).

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a further example preamble transmissionprocedure to indicate a NACK.

Referring to FIG. 8 , the example preamble transmission procedure 800may include, at block 810, a WTRU 102 receiving a configurationincluding and/or indicating any of: one or more NACK preambles, one ormore DTX preambles and/or one or more TF resources. In a firstalternative, at block 820, the WTRU 102 may receive a schedule for a MT.In a second alternative, the WTRU may skip block 820 or may not receivea schedule for a MT. At block 830, the WTRU 102 may monitor for a MT.The WTRU 102 may monitor for the scheduled MT, for example for the firstalternative. The WTRU 102 may, for example, monitor for a MT via achannel (e.g., a control or data channel). The channel may be associatedwith the MT. The WTRU 102 may monitor for the channel according to thereceived schedule, for example for the first alternative. The WTRU 102may skip block 830 or may not monitor for a control channel that may beassociated with the MT, for example when the WTRU 102 receives aschedule at block 820 for a data channel (e.g., a schedule for when adata channel or at least one data block may be transmitted). At block840, the WTRU 102 may attempt to receive a data channel and/or a datablock indicated (e.g., scheduled) by the control channel and/or theschedule. At block 850, the WTRU 102 may determine whether the receptionof at least one data channel or data block is successful (e.g., usingsequence number and/or CRC checks, among others). On condition that theWTRU 102 determines that the reception is successful, at block 860, theWTRU 102 may not send (e.g., may determine to not send) at least one of(e.g., all of) an ACK, a NACK, and/or a DTX indication to the eNode-B160 or other network entity. On condition that the WTRU 102 determinesthat the reception was not successful, at block 870, the WTRU 102 maydetermine the sequence number (SN) of the unsuccessfully received datablock and/or data channel. At block 880, the WTRU 102 may determine aNACK preamble and at least one TF resource to indicate a NACK (or a NACKfor the determined SN). At block 890, the WTRU 102 may send thedetermined preamble on the determined TF resource or resources. At orsubsequent to operating in accordance with block 860 and/or 890, theprocessing may stop or the WTRU may continue monitoring for the MT(e.g., a continuation of the MT) or another MT at block 830 or 840.

For example, the WTRU 102 may indicate (e.g., in a preambletransmission) the NACK to the eNode-B 160 for a data block of a MT.

Data Blocks Associated with a Representative Schedule

A set of data blocks may be transmitted according to a representativeschedule (e.g., a transmission schedule). The transmission schedule maybe or may include a set of time and/or frequency resources or locations(e.g., for transmission).

A DL control channel may be transmitted for (e.g., for scheduling orindicating one or more resources (e.g., TF resources) or parameters(e.g., transmission parameters) for) a set of data blocks. Thetransmission schedule (e.g., for a set of data blocks) and/or the numberof data blocks (e.g., in a set of data blocks) may be at least one of:(1) fixed; (2) provided or configured via signaling such as multicastsignaling, higher layer signaling such as RRC signaling, and/orbroadcast signaling; (3) included in a DCI that may be associated withthe set of data blocks; (4) configured by other control signaling;and/or (5) determined based on one or more WTRU categories, amongothers. For example, multicast control signaling may provide theschedule for multicast data signaling or data transmission. The schedulefor the multicast control signaling may be provided by broadcast or RRCsignaling.

A block (e.g., a data block) within a set of blocks (e.g., data blocks)may have an associated number (e.g., an associated sequence number). Thenumber may be or may be a function of at least one of the following: (1)the transmission schedule; (2) a frame number (FN) (e.g., a System FN(SFN) or a Hyper FN (HFN)); (3) a subframe number (e.g., within aframe); and/or (4) the number or the maximum number of blocks (e.g.,data blocks) in the set of blocks (e.g., data blocks), among others.

A WTRU 102 may attempt to receive one or more data blocks, for exampleaccording to the transmission schedule. A WTRU 102 may determine asequence number of a data block based on at least one of: (1) the numberof data blocks in the set; (2) the maximum number of data blocks in theset; (3) the transmission schedule; (4) the frame number; and/or (5) thesubframe number, among others.

A WTRU 102 may determine that the WTRU 102 does not receive (e.g.,successfully receive) a data block (e.g., a PDSCH) with a determinedsequence number. The WTRU 102 may transmit a NACK or a DTX for the datablock (e.g., the PDSCH). The WTRU 102 may use a preamble and/or TFresources that may indicate a NACK or a DTX for the determined sequencenumber.

Representative Procedure for a WTRU to Determine Preamble and Resources

A WTRU 102 may determine a preamble and/or one or more TF resources touse, for example to indicate a NACK and/or a DTX for a data block or aset of data blocks, based on at least one of the following: (1) aconfiguration, e.g., an obtained or received configuration, of one ormore preambles (e.g., one or more NACK preambles and/or one or more DTXpreambles); (2) a configuration, e.g., an obtained or receivedconfiguration, of TF resources (e.g., NACK TF resources and/or DTX TFresources); (3) the time period (e.g., the subframe and/or the SFN)during which the data block (e.g., the unsuccessfully received datablock) was received or was to be received; (4) the start and/or the endof the time period (e.g., the subframe and/or the SFN) during which theset of data blocks (e.g., the set of data blocks including the at leastone unsuccessfully received data block) was received or was to bereceived; (5) a data block ID such as a sequence number that may bewithin the set of data blocks; (6) a WTRU identifier (UE ID); (7)whether the indication is for a NACK or a DTX; and/or (8) randomselection from among a set that satisfies a set of criteria such as atleast one of the other criteria indicated, among others.

For example, a WTRU 102 may transmit a NACK or a DTX in time period n+k.The WTRU 102 may begin transmitting the NACK or the DTX beginning intime period n+k, for example when CE and/or repetition may be used. Thetime period n may be the time period in which (or for which) the WTRU102 may attempt to receive a data block and may not have received thedata block successfully (e.g., a CRC check failure). The time period nmay be a last time period of a set of time periods over which the datablock may be transmitted and/or received (for example the last timeperiod of a set of repetitions that may be associated with the datablock transmission). For repeated data blocks, the WTRU 102 may make thedetermination of successful reception or not (e.g., unsuccessfulreception) when the WTRU 102 attempts to receive the data blockincluding the set of repetitions.

The time period n may be the time period (or a last time period) inwhich (or for which) the WTRU 102 may attempt to receive a scheduledcontrol channel or data channel and may determine at least one of: (1) amissed control channel; (2) a missed data channel; and/or (3) anunsuccessfully received data channel, among others. The last time periodmay be the last time period of a set of time periods over which thecontrol channel or the data channel may be transmitted and/or received,for example the last time period of a set of repetitions that may beassociated with the channel transmission.

A time period may be or may include one or more subframes (e.g.,subframe intervals). A time period may be 1 ms (e.g., an LTE 1 mssubframe). A time period may include or comprise multiple 1 ms timeperiods (e.g., multiple LTE 1 ms subframes). For example, a time periodmay be an NB-IoT m-subframe that may include or comprise LTE subframes(e.g., 6 LTE 1 ms subframes) and/or span at least a set of LTE subframes(e.g., 6 LTE 1 ms subframes). A time period may be or may include one ormore slots (e.g., timeslots), one or more symbols, one or moretransmission time intervals (TTIs), and/or one or more mini-slots, amongothers.

The value of k may be a fixed value, such as 4, for example for FDD. Thevalue of k may be a function of a TDD UL/DL configuration, for examplewhen TDD is used. The value of k may be configured. The value of k maybe a function of any of: (1) the data block HARQ process ID; (2) thedata block sequence ID; and/or (3) the WTRU ID, among others.

Representative Procedure for NACK/DTX Transmission with CE

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an additional example preambletransmission procedure to indicate a NACK with CE level repetition.

Referring to FIG. 9 , the preamble transmission procedure 900 mayinclude, at block 910, a WTRU 102 receiving a configuration includingand/or indicating any of: one or more NACK preambles, one or more DTXpreambles and/or one or more TF resources. At block 920, the WTRU 102may attempt to receive a data channel and/or a data block of a MT. Atblock 930, the WTRU 102 may determine whether the WTRU 102 received thedata channel and/or data block of the MT successfully (e.g., usingsequence numbers and/or CRC checks, among others). On condition that theWTRU 102 determines that the reception is successful, at block 940, theWTRU 102 may not send an ACK or a NACK indication to an eNode-B 160 orother network entity. On condition that the WTRU 102 determines that thereception is not successful, at block 950, the WTRU 102 may determine aCE level for a NACK transmission. At block 960, the WTRU 102 maydetermine a NACK preamble and a TF resource or TF resources to indicatethe NACK. The preamble and/or the one or more TF resources may bedetermined based on the determined CE level. At block 970, the WTRU 102may send the determined NACK preamble on the determined TF resource orresources to indicate the NACK to the eNode-B 160 or other networkentity. At block 980, the WTRU 102 may transmit the NACK preamblerepetitions (e.g., the determined NACK preamble may be repeatedlytransmitted a number of times corresponding to the NACK preamblerepetitions) according to the determined CE level. At or subsequent tooperating in accordance with block 940 and/or 980, the processing maystop or the WTRU 102 may attempt again to receive a data channel or adata block for the MT (e.g., a continuation of the MT) or another MT atblock 920.

For example, a WTRU 102 may indicate a NACK in a preamble transmission,e.g., to an eNode-B 160 and/or another network entity, for a data blockof a MT. The transmission of the preamble may use repetitions (e.g.,according to a CE level). In certain representative embodiments, the CElevel may be determined by the WTRU 102 and/or may be configured, e.g.,by the network.

Separate or common time and/or frequency resources may be configuredand/or used, for example for one or more CE levels (e.g., different CElevels). Resource configuration for the NACK and/or the DTX preambletransmission(s) may be provided for and/or associated with a CE level.For a (e.g., each) CE level, the number of repetitions may be indicated.

Separate or common preambles may be configured and/or used, for examplefor one or more CE levels (e.g., different CE levels). When a WTRU 102determines a preamble and/or one or more TF resources on which totransmit the preamble, for example to indicate a NACK or a DTX, the WTRU102 may determine the preamble and/or the TF resources from among thoseconfigured for a CE level. The CE level may be a CE level determined bythe WTRU 102. The CE level may be a configured CE level. The CE levelmay be the maximum CE level supported in the cell.

A CE level may refer to a level of repetition. A CE level may be, maycorrespond to, or may be associated with a number of repetitions, forexample for a signal, a channel, and/or a transmission such as a controlchannel, a data channel, a preamble, a data block and/or set of datablocks, among others. For a CE level, the number of repetitions may bethe same or different for different signals, channels, and/ortransmissions. The CE level and/or the number of repetitions that may beused by or for a WTRU 102 (e.g., for a signal, channel, or transmission)may be determined or configured, for example, to enable the WTRU 102which may be coverage limited or located in a hard-to-reach (e.g.,hard-to-communicate) location with respect to its serving network, toachieve communication success. A CE level (e.g., for a WTRU 102) may bedetermined (e.g., by the WTRU 102) based on a measurement (e.g., by theWTRU 102) such as an RSRP measurement. For example, a first (e.g.,easy-to-reach) WTRU 102 (e.g., with a first RSRP measurement value) maytransmit a signal or channel with a first number of repetitions and asecond (e.g., hard-to-reach) WTRU 102 (e.g., with a second RSRPmeasurement value that may be lower than the first RSRP value) maytransmit a signal or channel with a second number of repetitions suchthat the second number of repetitions is higher than the first number ofrepetitions. Any number of CE levels (e.g., any number of repetitionlevels) are possible. The CE levels and/or the number of CE levels thatmay be used in a network or by a cell or an eNode-B 160 may beconfigured (e.g., signaled) by the network, cell, and/or eNode-B 160.

The CE level that a WTRU 102 may use may be determined by the WTRU 102based on reception of a channel such as a control channel for MT and/ora control channel for paging. The WTRU 102 may transmit repetitions of apreamble to indicate a NACK or a DTX based on the configured ordetermined CE level.

Representative Procedures for Power (e.g., Power Control) for NACK/DTXTransmission

A WTRU 102 may use maximum power (e.g., maximum WTRU configured outputpower), for example when transmitting a preamble to indicate a NACK or aDTX.

WTRUs 102 that may be near to (e.g., in the vicinity of) an eNode-B 160and/or far from the eNode-B 160 (e.g., at a cell edge) may transmit apreamble to indicate a NACK or a DTX and there may be no near-far issue,for example since the eNode-B 160 may use the reception of a NACK or aDTX to determine that at least one WTRU 102 may be transmitting a NACKor a DTX. An eNode-B 160 may not use the reception of the NACK or theDTX to determine which WTRU 102 may be transmitting the NACK or the DTX.

Representative Paging Procedure for MT (e.g., for SW Update)

Paging may be used, for example by an eNode-B 160, to indicate a MT,such as an upcoming MT, for example by the eNode-B 160. A MT may be ormay include at least one of the following: (1) a data transmission; (2)a control channel transmission; (3) scheduling information for amulticast data transmission; (4) a SW and/or a FW download or upgrade;(5) data, control, and/or scheduling for a SW and/or a FW download orupgrade; (6) a SW and/or a FW version number or indication that may, forexample, indicate the current version or number that may be availablefor download or to upgrade to.

The term “SW update” may be used to represent a SW and/or FW download,upgrade and/or update. Although, the SW update may be used as an exampleof a MT, other MTs are possible. Any other MT may be substituted for theSW update and may still be consistent with the disclosure herein.Version, number, and version number may be used interchangeably herein.

A WTRU 102 may be paged, for example by an eNode-B 160, to indicate a MTsuch as an upcoming MT. The WTRU 102 may determine a paging occasion(PO) that may be associated with its WTRU-ID and/or the MT. A PO may bea time for attempting to receive a control channel for a page and/or adata channel for a page. At or during the determined PO, the WTRU 102may monitor for and/or receive a control channel using an RNTI forpaging (e.g., a Paging-RNTI (P-RNTI)), an RNTI for a MT (MT-RNTI),and/or an RNTI for paging that may be associated with a MT (e.g., PagingMT-RNTI (PMT-RNTI)). Using a RNTI may mean that the CRC of the controlchannel may be scrambled with the RNTI. The control channel, e.g., theDCI, may include an indication indicating a MT such as an upcoming MTthat may be for or may be related to a SW update. The indication may be,for example a MT flag or a SW update flag. The control channel may, forexample provide, in lieu of or in addition to the indication, a grant(e.g., scheduling information) for a data channel that may include anindication indicating the MT.

Although a MT flag is disclosed herein as an example of a MT indication(e.g., of a MT or an upcoming MT), other examples are possible. Forexample, other MT indications implicit and/or explicit may be used andare still consistent with this disclosure.

In certain examples, a WTRU 102 may determine a PO and may wake up(e.g., if sleeping) for the determined PO. The WTRU 102 may receive acontrol channel at the PO that may be masked with a RNTI (e.g., aP-RNTI, a MT-RNTI or a PMT-RNTI, among others). The WTRU 102 maydetermine whether the control channel (e.g., the DL control channel, orthe DCI) contains or includes a MT flag (e.g., a SW update flag). TheWTRU 102 may make the determination, for example when the WTRU 102receives (e.g., successfully receives) the control channel. If the WTRU102 determines that the control channel or the DCI includes or containsa MT flag, the WTRU 102 may monitor for and/or may receive a MT (e.g.,an upcoming MT). In certain examples, the WTRU 102 may attempt toreceive a data channel that may be scheduled by the control channel, forexample if the WTRU 102 receives (e.g., successfully receives) thecontrol channel. If the WTRU 102 receives (e.g., successfully receives)the data channel and/or determines that the data channel includes orcontains a MT flag, the WTRU 102 may monitor for and/or may receive a MT(e.g., an upcoming MT). The MT may be provided (e.g., transmitted)according to a schedule that may be provided by signaling such as viahigher layer signaling (e.g., RRC signaling) or broadcast signaling. TheWTRU 102 may use the schedule to determine when (e.g., the time such asat which frame and/or subframe) to begin receiving the MT. The WTRU 102may begin receiving the MT at the determined time.

The WTRU 102 may continue to receive the MT, e.g., according to thetransmission schedule, until the MT has completed and/or the WTRU 102has received the completed transmission successfully. Completion of theMT may be indicated by at least one of: (1) an explicit end indication(e.g., in a data block or a control channel associated with a data block(for example in the last data block of the MT or in a control channelassociated with the last data block of the MT)); (2) a sequence numberthat may indicate a data block is the last data block; and/or (3) higherlayer signaling, among others.

A first MT, e.g., a control channel MT, may provide schedulinginformation for a second MT, e.g., a data channel MT.

A first MT may indicate a version and/or a number, such as a SW versionor SW number. The WTRU 102 may or may not receive a second MT based onthe version and/or number indicated by the first MT. For example, thefirst MT may indicate a SW version that may be available for download orfor updating to. The WTRU 102 may receive (e.g., only receive) thesecond MT if the SW version and/or number is higher or later than theWTRU's current SW version and/or SW number. The decision and/ordetermination to receive the second MT may be made by WTRU's higherlayers and may be indicated to the WTRU's physical layer.

In other examples, the SW version that may be available may be providedto a WTRU 102 in higher layer signaling such as broadcast signaling ordedicated signaling (e.g., RRC signaling), for example from an eNode-B160. In further examples, the SW version may be provided to the WTRU 102in a DCI, for example in a DCI that may be monitored using a RNTI suchas a P-RNTI, a MT-RNTI, or a PMT-RNTI, among others.

Representative CE Level and Representative Configuration for MT

A WTRU 102 (e.g., that may be in a connected mode) may receive aconfiguration for MT that may enable the WTRU 102 to receive one or moreMTs.

A WTRU 102 may receive one or more of the following, for example viahigher layer signaling such as RRC signaling and/or broadcast signaling:(1) a RNTI such as a P-RNTI, a MT-RNTI and/or a PMT-RNTI, among others;(2) a configuration or an indication to monitor for a control channel(e.g., in a PO, using a RNTI such as a P-RNTI, a MT-RNTI and/or aPMT-RNTI, among others); (3) a configuration to monitor for a pageindicating a MT such as an upcoming MT; (4) a configuration of one ormore POs or information from which to determine one or more POs, thatthe WTRU 102 may monitor for a page that may indicate a MT such as anupcoming MT, for example using an RNTI such as a P-RNTI, a MT-RNTIand/or a PMT-RNTI, among others; and/or (5) a CE level or number ofrepetitions that may be used for reception of a MT, among others.

A WTRU 102 (e.g., a connected mode WTRU 102) may monitor for a RNTI suchas a P-RNTI, a MT-RNTI or a PMT-RNTI, among others, for example whenconfigured to do so. A WTRU 102 may monitor one or more POs for a pagethat may indicate a MT such as an upcoming MT, for example whenconfigured to do so. An eNode-B 160 may be aware of the CE level of aWTRU 102 that is in a connected mode.

A WTRU 102 (e.g., a connected mode WTRU 102) may receive or may beconfigured with a CE level or a number of repetitions. The WTRU 102 mayreceive a linkage between a CE level and a number of repetitions. CElevel and number of repetitions may be used interchangeably herein.

A WTRU 102 (e.g., a connected mode WTRU 102) may be informed and/orconfigured (e.g., by an eNode-B 160) with a CE level that the WTRU 102may use for reception of a MT. The WTRU 102 may determine or expect theMT to be transmitted with at least that CE level, e.g., with at leastthe number of repetitions for that CE level. The WTRU 102 may receive orattempt to receive a MT with a number of repetitions. The number ofrepetitions may be less than or equal to the number of repetitionscorresponding to the informed and/or configured CE level. A WTRU 102 maystop combining repetitions when the WTRU 102 successfully receives atransmission (e.g., the MT).

A WTRU 102 (e.g., that may be in idle mode) may receive a configurationfor MT that may enable the WTRU 102 to receive one or more MTs. AneNode-B 160 may not know the CE level (e.g., the current CE level) of aWTRU 102 that is in idle mode.

A WTRU 102 may receive one or more of the following, for example viahigher layer signaling such as broadcast signaling (e.g., in systeminformation): (1) a RNTI such as a P-RNTI, a MT-RNTI and/or a PMT-RNTI,among others; and/or (2) a configuration of one or more POs orinformation from which to determine one or more POs, that the WTRU 102may monitor for a page that may indicate a MT such as an upcoming MT(for example using an RNTI such as a P-RNTI, a MT-RNTI and/or aPMT-RNTI, among others).

A WTRU 102 may monitor for a RNTI such as a P-RNTI, a MT-RNTI and/or aPMT-RNTI, among others. A WTRU 102 may monitor one or more POs for apage that may indicate a MT such as an upcoming MT. A WTRU 102 (e.g., anidle mode WTRU 102) may determine the CE level to use for a MT based onthe CE level with which the WTRU 102 received the DCI using an RNTI suchas the P-RNTI, the MT-RNTI and/or the PMT-RNTI, among others.

A WTRU 102 in idle mode may connect, e.g., request an RRC connection, toreceive a MT (e.g., a MT of a particular type) such as a SW update. Forexample, a WTRU 102 may determine that a SW version later than theWTRU's current SW version may be available. A WTRU 102 may, for example,determine the available version from at least one of: (1) a DCI that mayuse (e.g., may be masked or scrambled by) a RNTI, such as a P-RNTI, aMT-RNTI and/or a PMT-RNTI, among others; (2) broadcast signaling; and/or(3) multicast signaling, among others. At least one of the P-RNTI, theMT-RNTI, and/or the PMT-RNTI may be a fixed value and/or a valueotherwise known or determined by a WTRU 102.

Masked and scrambled may be used interchangeably herein. When a controlchannel or DCI is masked or scrambled by a RNTI, the CRC of the controlchannel or DCI may be scrambled by the RNTI.

Multicast signaling that may provide a SW version and/or schedulinginformation may be transmitted using a CE level (e.g., that may besufficient for at least some (e.g., and/or all) WTRUs 102), for exampleusing the worst case CE level supported by the cell.

In certain examples, a WTRU 102 may request an RRC connection with acause indicating a MT (e.g., of a particular type) and/or a SW update.The request may indicate to an eNode-B 160 or other network entity thatthe WTRU 102 may, or may want to, receive the MT and/or the SW update.In certain examples, a WTRU 102 may send another message or request thatmay indicate the cause of the message or request may be a MT (e.g., of aparticular type) and/or a SW update that the WTRU 102 may, or may wantto, receive.

The WTRU 102 may perform a random access (RA) procedure such as acontention based RA procedure. The WTRU 102 may choose a starting CElevel for the RA procedure based on a measurement (e.g., a RSRPmeasurement). The message or request (e.g., the RRC connection request)may be transmitted as part of the RA procedure. The eNode-B 160 may useor obtain the CE level of the WTRU 102 from the RA procedure. TheeNode-B 160 may pass and/or forward the cause (e.g., SW update) to thenetwork, e.g., the MME 162.

The WTRU 102 may determine the WTRU's CE level from the level at whichthe RA procedure is successful.

An eNode-B 160 may put a WTRU 102 in Suspend mode. In certain examples,the WTRU 102 may receive a MT while in Suspend mode. A WTRU 102 (e.g.,in Suspend mode) may monitor the WTRU's POs and may receive a page thatmay indicate the MT. In response to the page, the WTRU 102 may monitorfor the MT. In certain examples, the WTRU 102 may exit Suspend mode,e.g., perform a RA transmission with its resume ID to exit Suspend modeand may resume operation in a connected mode. The WTRU 102 may receivethe MT in a connected mode.

Representative CE Levels for MT Based on WTRU ID or Intended WTRURecipient(s)

A network node (e.g., an eNode-B 160, a MME 162, and/or another node)may know and/or may determine at least one of the following (e.g., forone or more (e.g., all) connected mode WTRUs 102 that may be in amulticast group): (1) a SW revision and/or (2) a CE level that may beappropriate and/or needed.

A network node may want and/or desire to perform a SW update. A networknode may inform an eNode-B 160 that the network node may perform a SWupdate. The network node may inform the eNode-B 160 of one or more WTRUs102 to which to direct the SW update. The network node may indicate aWTRU 102 to an eNode-B 160 by a WTRU ID (or a part of a WTRU ID) thatmay be at least one of: (1) a unique identifier; (2) an InternationalMobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI); (3) a Temporary IMSI (TIMSI); and/or(4) a System Architecture Evolution (SAE) TIMSI (S-TIMSI), among others.

The eNode-B 160 may receive an indication that the network may perform aSW update. The eNode-B 160 may receive a WTRU ID for one or more WTRUs102 (e.g., that may receive or may be the intended recipients of the SWupdate). The eNode-B 160 may determine a CE level (e.g., an optimized CElevel and/or a worst case CE level) that may be used for the SW update,for example based on the CE levels of the intended WTRUs 102.

The eNode-B 160 may use the determined CE level as the CE level for thecontrol channel and/or the data channel for the SW update MT. TheeNode-B 160 may use the determined CE level for the CE level of thecontrol channel and/or the data channel for paging, for example forpaging one or more WTRUs 102 to inform the one or more WTRUs 102 of anupcoming MT such as for the SW upgrade. The eNode-B 160 may receive theMT schedule from a network node and may schedule the transmission. TheeNode-B 160 may page one or more WTRUs 102 to inform the one or moreWTRUs 102 of the upcoming MT.

Representative Request for Interest in SW Download

A WTRU 102 may receive a request for an interest indication for a MTand/or SW update. The request may be sent by and/or received from aneNode-B 160. The request may be provided by higher layer signaling suchas RRC signaling, for example to a connected mode WTRU 102. The requestmay be provided in a page, for example to idle mode WTRUs 102 and/orconnected mode WTRUs 102 that may be using discontinuous reception(e.g., DRX). The request may include a SW version that may be available.

A WTRU 102 may reply to the request. A WTRU 102, for example a connectedmode WTRU 102, may indicate that the WTRU 102 may be interested toreceive the MT or the SW upgrade, for example if the available versionis later than the WTRU's current version. The WTRU 102 may indicate theWTRU's current version in the reply. The WTRU 102 may send the reply viasignaling (e.g., the RRC signaling). The request and/or the reply may bein NAS signaling. The NAS signaling may be encapsulated in the RRCsignaling.

A WTRU 102, for example an idle mode WTRU 102, may respond to a page bytransmitting a preamble and/or by initiating a RA procedure. The WTRU102 may indicate in a message that may be part of the RA procedure thatthe WTRU 102 may be interested to receive a SW update. In certainexamples, the WTRU 102 may request an RRC connection. The WTRU 102 mayindicate a cause, e.g., for the RRC connection, as MT (e.g., of aparticular type), a SW update, interested in a MT (e.g., of a particulartype), and/or interested in a SW update. In certain examples, the WTRU102 may send a message and/or request (e.g., a different or separatemessage or request from a RRC connection request or from a message thatmay be part of a RA procedure) that may indicate that the cause of themessage or request may be a MT (e.g., of a particular type), a SWupdate, interested in a MT (e.g., of a particular type), and/orinterested in a SW update.

In other representative embodiments, one or more preambles and/or TFresources may be configured and/or used to indicate interest inreceiving a SW upgrade. Configuration may be provided by signaling suchas broadcast signaling, for example from an eNode-B 160. A WTRU 102 maydetermine a preamble and a set of one or more TF resources fortransmission of the preamble, for example to indicate the WTRU'sinterest in receiving a SW update.

The WTRU 102 may indicate the WTRU's interest in receiving the SWupdate, for example by transmitting the determined preamble on thedetermined set of resources.

Representative Request for Transmission

A request for a transmission may be provided and/or used. A WTRU 102 mayrequest a transmission, for example from an eNode-B 160. Thetransmission (e.g., requested transmission) may be a broadcasttransmission and/or a MT that, for example, may be received or intendedto be received by at least one (e.g., more than one) WTRU 102. Thetransmission (e.g., requested transmission) may be a dedicatedtransmission that, for example, may be received or intended to bereceived by at least one (e.g., only one) WTRU 102.

A WTRU 102 may request a transmission such as a transmission of systeminformation (SI) or a transmission of a SW update.

A WTRU 102 may request a transmission and/or receive a requestedtransmission while in idle mode and/or connected mode (e.g., RRCconnected mode).

Representative SI

SI may be provided (e.g., transmitted) by an eNode-B 160. SI may bereceived by one or more WTRUs 102.

The SI may be provided in one or more SI messages, SI blocks (SIBs),and/or master information blocks (MIBs), among others. At least some SImay be provided in response to a request for transmission. SI and SIBtransmission are used herein as non-limiting examples of a transmissionor TType that may be requested, broadcast, multicast, and/or providedvia dedicated signaling. Another transmission or TType may be used andstill be consistent with the examples and embodiments described herein.

In certain representative embodiments, at least some SI may have aschedule, for example a regular or periodic schedule. At least some SImay be provided or transmitted regularly or periodically, for exampleaccording to a schedule that may be configured, determined, and/orknown. At least some SI may be provided or transmitted, for exampleaccording to a schedule, when requested (e.g., only when requested)and/or when a transmission (e.g., of the SI) may be active or activated.

At least some SI may be scheduled for transmission at least once withina transmission period. The at least some SI may be updated on boundariesof a transmission period. A transmission period may be an SImodification period. A schedule may be used to determine when atransmission period may begin and/or occur.

The SI may provide and/or indicate information regarding a cell, asystem, and/or a network, among others. The SI, for example for a cellor that may be provided by a cell or an eNode-B 160 of a cell, mayinclude information regarding (e.g., that may enable access to and/orcommunication with) the cell, another cell (e.g., an aggregated cell, aneighboring cell, and/or a small cell, among others), the system ornetwork to which the cell belongs, and/or the system or network to whichanother cell belongs.

Representative Procedures for WTRU to Indicate Request for Transmission(e.g., Using a Preamble)

A preamble may be provided and/or used for indicating a request for atransmission such as a broadcast transmission.

In certain examples, a WTRU 102 may transmit a preamble, such as a PRACHpreamble, among others, to indicate a request for a transmission. Theterms transmission request (tx-request) and request for transmission maybe used interchangeably herein.

A first preamble may be used for a tx-request from a first WTRU 102 or afirst set or group of WTRUs 102. A second preamble may be used for atx-request from a second WTRU 102 or a second set or group of WTRUs 102.The first and second preambles may be the same or different.

A first TF resource (or set of TF resources) may be used for atx-request from a first WTRU 102 or a first set or group of WTRUs 102. Asecond TF resource (or set of TF resources) may be used for a tx-requestfrom a second WTRU 102 or a second set or group of WTRUs 102. The firstand second TF resources (or sets of TF resources) may be the same ordifferent.

A set or group of WTRUs 102 may, for example be grouped based on oraccording to a CE level. The set or group to which a WTRU 102 may belongmay be determined based on or according to a CE level, e.g., the CElevel of the WTRU 102.

An eNode-B 160 may provide (e.g., via configuration that the eNode-B 160may signal) one or more preambles (e.g., tx-request preambles) and/orone or more TF resources on which to transmit the one or more preambles,for example to indicate a tx-request.

An eNode-B 160 may receive at least one preamble that may indicate atx-request. The eNode-B 160 may transmit a transmission (e.g., abroadcast transmission), for example in response to the tx-request. Forexample, a WTRU 102 may transmit a preamble to indicate a request fortransmission of SI, one or more SIBs, one or more MIBs and/or a set ofSIBs, among others. The eNode-B 160 may transmit SI, one or more SIBs,one or more MIBs, and/or a set of SIBs, for example in response to arequest (e.g., a corresponding request).

In certain examples, a WTRU 102 may transmit a preamble, a signal, asequence, and/or a channel to indicate a request for a SW update. AneNode-B 160 may transmit a SW update, for example in response to arequest for a SW update.

Representative Procedures for WTRU to Indicate Request for TType

In certain representative embodiments, a WTRU 102 may indicate a requestfor a particular TType. There may be at least one TType. A TType maycomprise or include at least one of: a broadcast transmission, a MT,and/or a dedicated transmission. A TType may comprise or includetransmission of at least one of: SI, a set of SI messages, a set ofSIBs, at least one MIB, and/or a SW update. A TType may comprise orinclude transmission of at least one of: a reference signal, ameasurement signal, and/or a synchronization signal.

A preamble and/or a TF resource (or set of TF resources) may beconfigured for and/or correspond to a TType. For example, a firstpreamble and/or a first TF resource (or set of TF resources) may beconfigured for and/or correspond to a first set of SIBs. A secondpreamble and/or a second TF resource (or set of TF resources) may beconfigured for and/or correspond to a second set of SIBs.

A WTRU 102 may determine a preamble and/or a TF resource (or set of TFresources) that may be configured for and/or correspond to a TType. TheWTRU 102 may transmit the determined preamble to request transmission ofthe TType. The WTRU 102 may transmit on the determined TF resource (orset of TF resources) to request transmission of the TType.

Representative Procedures for Response to Transmission Request

A TType may be transmitted, e.g., by an eNode-B 160, in response to atx-request, e.g., a tx-request for a TType. The TType, for example, maybe transmitted in a transmission period that may be after thetx-request, e.g., after a receipt of the tx-request. The TType, forexample, may be transmitted in the next transmission period after thetx-request and/or in a predetermined period after the tx-request (e.g.,a subsequent transmission period).

On-demand activation may refer to activating a transmission or TType inresponse to a request or a need for the transmission or TType.

A WTRU 102 may monitor for, receive, and/or expect to receive a TTypeafter sending a tx-request for the TType. For example, a WTRU 102 maymonitor for, receive, and/or expect to receive a TType in a transmissionperiod (e.g., the next transmission period) after sending a tx-requestfor the TType.

Monitoring for and/or receiving a TType may include monitoring forand/or receiving at least one control channel and/or at least one datachannel that may be associated with the TType. The terms monitoring andmonitoring for may be used interchangeably herein.

Representative Procedures Associated with CE Level

Time and/or frequency resources (e.g., separate time and/or frequencyresources) may be configured and/or used, for example, for one or moreCE levels. A resource configuration for tx-request preamble transmissionmay be provided for and/or associated with a CE level. For a CE level, anumber of repetitions may be configured and/or indicated. A CE level maybe or may correspond to a number of repetitions. CE level and number ofrepetitions may be used interchangeably herein. Preambles (e.g.,separate preambles) may be configured and/or used, for example, for oneor more CE levels.

When a WTRU 102 determines a preamble and/or one or more TF resources onwhich to transmit the preamble, for example to indicate a tx-request,the WTRU 102 may determine the preamble and/or TF resources from amongthose configured for a CE level. The CE level may be a CE leveldetermined by the WTRU 102. The CE level may be a configured CE level.The CE level may be the maximum CE level supported in the cell.

The CE level may be determined by the WTRU 102 based on a measurement orbased on reception (e.g., successful reception) of a channel (e.g., acontrol channel for broadcast or MT and/or a control channel forpaging).

The WTRU 102 may transmit repetitions of a preamble to indicate atx-request based on the configured or determined CE level. In certainrepresentative embodiments, the CE level may be configured.

A WTRU 102 may receive or expect to receive a requested transmissionwith a CE level (e.g., a number of repetitions) that may correspond to(or be greater than) the CE level (e.g., the number of repetitions) theWTRU 102 used to transmit the request.

Reception with a CE level or number of repetitions may include combining(e.g., soft combining) repetitions of a transmission to receive (e.g.,successfully receive) the transmission.

Representative Procedures Associated with Power for tx-requestTransmission

A WTRU 102 may use a maximum power (e.g., a maximum WTRU configuredoutput power), for example when transmitting a tx-request or a preambleto indicate a tx-request. In certain representative embodiments, a WTRU102 may determine a power to use for transmission of a tx-request basedon at least one of: a measurement, reception of a SI (e.g., a MIB and/ora SIB), and/or reception of a channel such as a control channel forbroadcast, multicast, or paging.

Representative Procedures for Handling of Non-Receipt of Requested TType

A WTRU 102 may perform at least one action (e.g., a non-receipt action)when the WTRU 102 does not receive (e.g., successfully receive) a TType(e.g., SI or a set of SIBs) or at least part of a TType (e.g., a subsetof a set of SIBs), for example after requesting transmission of theTType.

A WTRU 102 may perform at least one action (e.g., a non-receipt action)conditioned on a lack of reception (e.g., successful reception) in atleast one of the following: (1) a window of time that may be configured,signaled, and/or predetermined; (2) a transmission period after sendingthe tx-request, such as the next transmission period, a subsequenttransmission period, a predetermined transmission period or a signaledtransmission period; (3) a number of transmission periods after sendingthe request such as the next transmission period (or a subsequenttransmission period) and one or more additional periods where the numberand/or scheduling of transmission periods may be configured,predetermined or signaled.

A WTRU 102, for example, may perform at least one of the followingactions (e.g., non-receipt actions) including: (1) send anothertx-request for the TType; (2) send a tx-request for a part of the TType(e.g., a part of the TType that was not received); (3) increase power(e.g., determine and/or use an increased power) for sending atx-request; (4) determine and/or use another (e.g., higher) CE level ornumber of repetitions for sending a tx-request; (5) determine and/or usea preamble and/or TF resources for another (e.g., higher) CE level;and/or (6) determine and/or use another (e.g., higher) CE level ornumber of repetitions for monitoring and/or receiving a TType, amongothers.

Representative Paging for Upcoming Transmission

Paging may indicate (e.g., may be used by an eNode-B 160 to indicate) atransmission (e.g., a TType) such as an upcoming transmission (e.g.,TType), for example by the eNode-B 160. For example, paging may indicatean SI transmission (e.g., an upcoming SI transmission). Paging mayindicate whether the SI transmission may include updated information(e.g., an SI update and/or SI modification), for example since (e.g.,relative to) a previous SI transmission.

A WTRU 102 may determine a paging occasion (PO) that may be associatedwith its WTRU-ID and/or at least one TType. At or during the determinedPO, the WTRU 102 may monitor and/or receive a control channel using aRNTI. The RNTI may, for example be a RNTI for paging (e.g., P-RNTI), anRNTI for a TType, or an RNTI for paging that may be associated with aTType such as a TType that may be requested.

The control channel (e.g., the DCI) may include at least one indication(e.g., tx-indication) that may be related to a transmission (e.g., anupcoming transmission). A tx-indication may indicate that a transmission(e.g., a TType) such as an upcoming transmission (e.g., an upcomingTType) may be transmitted or may occur. A tx-indication may provideinformation regarding a transmission that may be transmitted or mayoccur. The transmission may have been requested by at least one WTRU102. In certain representative embodiments, the control channel may(e.g., in addition or alternatively) provide a grant (e.g., schedulinginformation) for a data channel that may include at least onetx-indication.

A tx-indication may include an identification of a TType (or a part of aTType) that may be transmitted, for example in an upcoming transmissionperiod. A tx-indication, for example, may indicate the transmission(e.g., the upcoming transmission) of SI and/or an update (e.g., anupcoming update) of SI, for example in an upcoming (e.g., a next orsubsequent) transmission period. For example, a tx-indication mayprovide at least one of: (1) an indication that some SI (e.g., at leastone or more SIBs) may be transmitted, for example in an upcomingtransmission period; (2) an indication that some SI (e.g., at least oneor more SIBs) may be updated, for example in an upcoming transmissionperiod; (3) an indication of which SI (e.g., which one or more SIBs) maybe transmitted and/or updated, for example in an upcoming transmissionperiod; and/or (4) an indication of at least one SIB (e.g., anindication of the number and/or identity of at least one SIB) that maybe transmitted and/or updated, for example in an upcoming transmissionperiod, among others.

In certain examples, a bit or a set of bits may be used to indicate thatsome SI (e.g., a set of SIBs) may be transmitted. A bit or bits (e.g., aseparate bit or bits) may be used to indicate whether or not the SI(e.g., the transmitted SI) may be changed (e.g., modified).

In certain examples, an unchanged value tag may be used to indicate thatSI (e.g., some SI) may be transmitted and unchanged (e.g., from the lasttransmission of SI).

In certain representative embodiments, an upcoming transmission periodmay be a next transmission period or a different transmission period.

A WTRU 102 may determine whether to monitor for and/or receive a TType(or a part of a TType) for example in a transmission period (e.g., anupcoming transmission period) based on one or more tx-indications thatmay be received in a channel (e.g., a control channel that may be apaging control channel and/or a data channel that may be a paging datachannel). A WTRU 102 may monitor for and/or receive a TType (and/or anindication of a TType) according to a schedule that may be configured,signaled, determined and/or known.

For example, a WTRU 102 may monitor for and/or receive SI or a SIB whena tx-indication indicates or may indicate that at least the SI or theSIB is to be and/or may be transmitted.

A WTRU 102 may determine whether to monitor for and/or receive SI (e.g.,one or more SIBs), for example in a transmission period (e.g., anupcoming transmission period) based on one or more tx-indications. AWTRU 102 may monitor for and/or receive SI or a SIB according to aschedule that may be configured, signaled, determined and/or known.

A WTRU 102 may not monitor for and/or may not receive SI or a SIB when atx-indication indicates (e.g., and/or may indicate) that the SI or theSIB may not be transmitted. A WTRU 102 may not monitor for and/or maynot receive SI or a SIB when there is or may be no tx-indication thatindicates that the SI (e.g., at least the SI) or the SIB (e.g., at leastthe SIB) may be transmitted. A WTRU 102 may not monitor for and/or maynot receive SI or a SIB when a tx-indication indicates or may indicatethat the SI or the SIB is unchanged or may be unchanged (e.g., notupdated), for example when the WTRU 102 has (e.g., already has or hasalready received), the SI or the SIB, for example a current version ofthe SI or the SIB.

In certain examples, a WTRU 102 may determine a PO and may wake up(e.g., if appropriate and/or sleeping) for the determined PO. The WTRU102 may receive a control channel at the PO that may be masked with aRNTI. The WTRU 102 may determine whether the control channel, e.g., DLcontrol channel, or DCI contains or includes a tx-indication. The WTRU102 may make the determination, for example when it successfullyreceives the control channel. If the WTRU 102 determines that thecontrol channel or the DCI contains or includes a tx-indication, theWTRU 102 may determine whether to monitor for and/or receive thetransmission, for example in the upcoming transmission period. Thedetermination may be based on the tx-indication.

In certain representative embodiments, the WTRU 102 may attempt toreceive a data channel that may be scheduled by the control channel, forexample if the WTRU 102 receives (e.g., successfully receives) thecontrol channel. If the WTRU 102 receives (e.g., successfully receives)the data channel and/or determines that the data channel contains orincludes a tx-indication, the WTRU 102 may determine whether to monitorfor and/or receive the transmission, for example in the upcomingtransmission period. The determination may be based on thetx-indication.

A TType may be transmitted and/or provided according to a schedule thatmay be provided by signaling such as higher layer signaling (e.g., RRCsignaling) or broadcast signaling. The WTRU 102 may use the schedule todetermine when (e.g., a time such as at which frame and/or subframe) tobegin receiving the TType. The WTRU 102 may begin receiving the TType atthe determined time.

A WTRU 102 may monitor for a page that may include (e.g., in anassociated control or data channel) a tx-indicator, for example aftersending a request for a TType. The WTRU 102 may monitor for the pagethat may be associated with the TType.

A WTRU 102 may perform at least one non-receipt action when the WTRU 102does not receive a page, for example a page that may include atx-indication that may indicate an upcoming transmission for a requestedTType.

Representative Paging CE Level and Transmission CE Level

A first CE level (e.g., number of repetitions) may be used for a pagingtransmission. A TType that may be indicated by a paging transmission(e.g., via a tx-indicator) may use a second CE level. The associationand/or correspondence of the first CE level and the second CE level maybe configured, signaled, determined and/or predetermined.

The first CE level may be the CE level of the paging control channeland/or the data channel (e.g., the paging data channel). The second CElevel may be the CE level of the transmission (e.g., the indicated TTypetransmission) control channel and/or the data channel (e.g., thetransmission data channel).

A WTRU 102 may receive a page that may contain or include atx-indicator. The WTRU 102 may receive the page with a number ofrepetitions that may be up to a first number of repetitions. The WTRU102 may receive the indicated transmission with a number of repetitionsthat may be up to a second number of repetitions. The WTRU 102 maydetermine the second number of repetitions from theassociation/correspondence between the first and second number ofrepetitions.

Representative Connection Establishment and Transmission Request

A WTRU 102 may use a RA procedure and/or operation to request a TType,for example to request transmission of SI (e.g., one or more SIBs). AWTRU 102 may perform a RA procedure/operation such as a contention basedRA procedure, for example to request connection establishment (e.g., aRRC connection establishment). A WTRU 102 may use a preamble and/or TFresource that may be configured and/or used for a combined connectionrequest (e.g., a RRC connection request) and a tx-request for a TType.For example, a WTRU 102 may determine a preamble and/or one or more TFresources that may be configured and/or used for a combined connectionrequest and a tx-request for a TType. The WTRU 102 may transmit thedetermined preamble on the determined one or more TF resources.

An eNode-B 160 may respond to the request with an RA response (e.g.,RAR) that may include a TType (e.g., the requested TType).

A RAR may include and/or indicate a TType (e.g., a requested TType). Forexample, the RAR may include some SI. A RAR may comprise or include aWTRU-specific part and a common part. The WTRU-specific part (orpreamble specific part) may include at least one of: an indication of areceived preamble, a timing advance, an UL grant, and/or a temporaryC-RNTI, among others. The WTRU-specific part may be used by a WTRU 102that may have sent the indicated preamble. The common part may include aTType (e.g., include SI) that may be received and/or used by at leastone (e.g., more than one) WTRU 102 that may have sent a preamble (e.g.,a preamble to request the TType).

A WTRU 102 may include a tx-request in a message that may be part of aRA procedure. For example, a tx-request may be included in one of the ULmessages of an RA procedure such as msg3, a connection request, msg5,and/or a connection setup complete (e.g., a connection setup completemessage). A tx-request indication may be incorporated into theestablishment cause. The indication may be incorporated into the header(e.g., a MAC header and/or a RLC header, among others) of an UL messageof an RA procedure.

An eNode-B 160 may transmit and/or a WTRU 102 may receive a TType thatmay be requested, for example in a message that may be part of a RAprocedure. For example, a requested TType may be included as part of aconnection setup message.

Representative ACK Procedure for Requested Transmission

In certain representative embodiments, methods, operations, proceduresand apparatus may be implemented for on-demand system information and/oron-demand broadcast or multicast transmission(s).

In certain representative embodiments, methods, operations, proceduresand apparatus may be implemented, for an eNode-B ACK of abroadcast/multicast request, using any of the following to indicate theACK itself and/or what is being ACKed: DCI scrambling (e.g., RNTI based)and/or DCI contents, PDSCH (e.g., RAR), PHICH, PHICH-like, and otherconfigured resources.

In certain representative embodiments, methods, operations, procedures,parameters and apparatus may be implemented, to indicate to a WTRU 102and/or for the WTRU 102 to know or determine, how long thebroadcast/multicast (B/M) transmission may or will be present. The B/Mparameters may use a fixed and/or configured value for and/or toindicate: (1) a number of transmissions in a transmission period; (2) atotal number of transmissions that may span one or more transmissionperiods, for example for an activation; (3) a number of transmissionperiods (e.g., the number of configured transmission periods); and/or(4) a number of cycles (e.g., during which the transmission may berepeated).

A request for a broadcast transmission or a MT (e.g., via a request fora TType) or a request for a TType may be acknowledged. Theacknowledgement (ACK) may be transmitted by an eNode-B 160 and/orreceived by a WTRU 102. The ACK may indicate any of: (1) that a requestwas received, (2) what request was received, (3) for what TType arequest was received, and/or (4) what TType may be transmitted, forexample at a future time that may be configured and/or known, amongothers.

An ACK is referred to herein as an example (e.g., non-limiting example)of an indication. Indications, other than an ACK, may be used and stillbe consistent with this disclosure.

For example, a WTRU 102 may receive at least one indication (e.g., froman eNode-B 160) that may indicate that a request for a MT or a broadcasttransmission (e.g., TType) was received (e.g., by the eNode-B 160). Anindication may be or may include an ACK. An indication may provideinformation regarding the request. For example, an indication mayidentify and/or provide information regarding what or which request (orgroup and/or set of requests) was/were received. An indication mayidentify what or which request (or group and/or set of requests) isbeing acknowledged. In certain examples, an indication may identifyand/or provide information regarding a TType that was requested and/or aTType that is being acknowledged.

An indication (e.g., of a request reception) may be received by a firstWTRU 102. The request may have been from the first WTRU 102 or from asecond WTRU 102.

In an example, a first WTRU 102 may request transmission using and/or ofa TType (e.g., SI, a set of SIBs, and/or a SW update). The WTRU 102 maymake the request by transmitting a signal, channel and/or preamble on(e.g., on a set of) time and/or frequency resources. Request-resourcesmay be resources that may be used for making the request. The WTRU 102may transmit the request, for example, to an eNode-B 160.

A WTRU 102 (e.g., the first WTRU and/or a second WTRU) may receive anindication (e.g., an ACK), for example from an eNode-B 160. Theindication may indicate that a request (e.g., the request by the firstWTRU 102) was received and/or that a requested transmission (e.g.,requested by the first WTRU 102) may be made, for example, at a time Xor at least a time X after (e.g., after a time at which) the request wasmade or the indication was received. The indication may indicate that arequest (e.g., the request by the first WTRU 102) was received and/orthat a requested transmission (e.g., requested by the first WTRU 102)may be made, for example, in an upcoming (e.g., next) transmissionperiod, for example of the requested and/or acknowledged TType. X, forexample, may be in TTIs, subframes, slots, mini-slots, and/or symbols. Xmay be configured (e.g., by an eNode-B 160), determined (e.g., by theWTRU 102), and/or otherwise known (e.g., by the WTRU 102).

An indication may be transmitted (e.g., by an eNode-B 160) and/orreceived by a WTRU 102. An indication may indicate any of the following:(1) request reception or ACK; (2) a plan and/or an intent to transmit,e.g., at least one TType; (3) a TType, e.g., associated with the requestreception, ACK, the plan to transmit and/or the intent to transmit;and/or (4) at least one parameter that may be related to a transmissiontime of a TType (e.g., the requested TType, the ACKed TType, the TTypethat the eNode-B 160 may be planning or intending to transmit), amongothers.

The TType may be the requested TType, an acknowledged TType, and/or aTType that may be intended for transmission or indicated as intended fortransmission.

Any of the following may be used to provide an ACK and/or an indication:(1) control information (e.g., downlink control information (DCI))contents; (2) control information (e.g., DCI) scrambling, for exampleDCI CRC scrambling with a RNTI; (3) a RNTI; (4) data channel (e.g.,PDSCH) contents and/or payload, for example, a random access response(RAR) data channel contents and/or payload; and/or (5) PHICH and/orPHICH-like resources and/or other configured resources, among others.

An ACK and/or indication may be transmitted (e.g., by an eNode-B 160)and/or may be received by a WTRU 102 in any of the following ways: (1)in control information (e.g., in the contents of the controlinformation) such as in DL control Information (DCI); (2) via DCIscrambling (e.g., DCI CRC scrambling with a RNTI); (3) in a data channel(e.g., in the contents and/or payload of the data channel) such as aPDSCH, for example in a RAR PDSCH; and/or (4) via PHICH or PHICH-likeresource and/or other configured resources, among others.

One or more PHICH resources may be reserved, configured, predetermined,and/or used for an ACK and/or an indication. For example, a PHICH group(n_(PHICH) ^(group)) may be reserved and/or configured for an ACK and/oran indication of one or more TTypes. Within a PHICH group, one or moresequences may be used, configured, and/or predefined for one or moreTTypes. One or more sequences (e.g., each sequence) may be associatedwith a TType. Table 1 shows an example TType indication using PHICHresources, such that a PHICH group (e.g., n_(PHICH) ^(group)=1) may bereserved or used for a TType indication and multiple sequences may beassociated with multiple TTypes.

A WTRU 102 may attempt to receive an associated PHICH resource orresources for a TType for which and/or that the WTRU 102 requested.

A WTRU 102 may receive and/or attempt to decode a PDSCH, which mayinclude the TType for which the WTRU 102 requested if or on conditionthat the WTRU 102 received an ACK for the TType.

TABLE 1 An example of TType Indication using PHICH resourcesTransmission Type Indicator n_(PHICH) ^(group) n_(PHICH) ^(seq) HIConfiguration 1 0 0 DTX for a first TType 1 0 1 ACK for a first TType 11 0 DTX for a second TType 1 1 1 ACK for a second TType 1 2 0 DTX for athird TType 1 2 1 ACK for a third TType

DCI may be referred to herein as an example (e.g., a non-limitingexample) of control channel information.

A WTRU 102 may transmit a request for a TType, for example usingrequest-resources. A first WTRU 102 may monitor for an ACK and/or anindication that may indicate that a request (e.g., from the first WTRU102 or a second WTRU 102) for a TType was received. The first WTRU 102may monitor for an ACK and/or an indication that may indicate that aTType (e.g., a requested TType) may be transmitted. A WTRU 102 (e.g.,the first WTRU 102) may determine that a request (e.g., for a TType) wasreceived and/or that a TType may be transmitted, for example based on areception of an ACK and/or an indication. A WTRU 102 (e.g., the firstWTRU 102) may receive the TType, for example based on the determination.

A WTRU 102 may monitor for an ACK and/or an indication to determinewhether a TType (e.g., a TType associated with the ACK and/or theindication) was requested by another WTRU 102. A WTRU 102 may notrequest a TType, for example when the WTRU 102 determines that the TTypewas requested (e.g., by another WTRU 102) and/or that the TType wasacknowledged (e.g., by an eNode-B 160). A WTRU 102 may receive a TTypeafter (e.g., based on) determining that the TType was requested (e.g.,by another WTRU 102) and/or acknowledged (e.g., by an eNode-B 160).

Representative Use of a Control Channel and a RNTI

A DCI may include (e.g., explicitly include) an ACK and/or anindication. A WTRU 102 may monitor for a DCI that may provide an ACKand/or an indication (e.g., the ACK). A DCI may be scrambled (e.g., aCRC of the DCI may be scrambled) with a cell-specific or WTRU-specificRNTI.

A RNTI may be configured for and/or associated with any of: (1) a TType(e.g., a requested TType); and/or (2) a request mechanism, e.g., themechanism that may be used for requesting a TType, such as a randomaccess procedure, among others. For example, a WTRU 102 may use a randomaccess procedure to request a TType. A WTRU 102 may monitor for a randomaccess (RA)-RNTI, for example to receive an ACK.

A WTRU 102 may monitor for a RNTI (e.g., a DCI scrambled with an RNTI).When or on condition that the WTRU 102 receives the RNTI for which itmay be monitoring, the WTRU 102 may obtain an ACK and/or an indicationfrom the associated DCI (e.g., from the contents of the DCI). When or oncondition that the WTRU 102 receives the RNTI for which it may bemonitoring, the WTRU 102 may obtain an ACK and/or an indication from thedata channel that may be scheduled by the associated DCI.

A DCI including an ACK or an indication may be monitored, for example,in a certain location of a common search space and/or a WTRU-specificsearch space. The location of the common search space and/or theWTRU-specific search space may be one or more decoding candidates(and/or one or more PDCCH candidates) and/or determined based on theTType for which the WTRU 102 requested.

One or more TTypes may be used and/or configured and a TType (e.g., eachTType) may be associated with a location of a common search space and/ora WTRU-specific search space. A WTRU 102 may monitor the associatedlocation of a common search space and/or a WTRU-specific search spaceafter sending a request for a TType.

One or more specific DL control channel resources (e.g., one or morecontrol channel elements (CCEs) and/or one or more resource elementgroups (REGs)) may be used for an ACK and/or an indication. For example,one or more CCEs and/or one or more REGs may be reserved and/or used foran ACK or an indication. For example, CCEs and/or REGs (e.g., each CCEand/or each REG) may be associated with a TType. A WTRU 102 may attemptto decode an associated CCE or REG after sending a request for a TType.

A predefined and/or known sequence may be transmitted in the associatedCCE and/or the associated REG.

An energy level of the associated CCE and/or the associated REG maydetermine a status of the ACK and/or the indication.

In certain examples, a RNTI may be associated with a TType. A WTRU 102may monitor for a RNTI. Based on receipt of the RNTI for a TType, theWTRU 102 may determine that a request for the TType was received and/orthat the TType may be transmitted.

Representative Use of Physical Layer Resources for ACK/Indication

One or more sets of resources may be configured, provided, and/or used.

A set of resources, for example time and/or frequency resources, may beconfigured for, associated with, and/or used for any of: (1) atransmission (e.g., a TType or a transmission associated with a TType);(2) a transmission (e.g., a TType) request; (3) a transmission (e.g., aTType) acknowledgement; and/or (4) an upcoming transmission of a TType,among others.

A configuration and/or association may be provided (e.g., by an eNode-B160) and/or received by a WTRU 102, for example via higher layersignaling (e.g., RRC signaling), broadcast signaling, and/or systeminformation, among others. The signaling may be WTRU-specific, cellspecific, and/or specific to a beam and/or direction, among others.

A set of resources may be located in a control channel region and/or adata channel region of a time period such as a slot or timeslot, amini-slot, a subframe, or a TTI. A set of resources may occupy one ormore symbols.

A set of resources may be used in at least some time periods. One ormore time periods in which the resources may be used may be aperiodic.One or more time periods in which the resources may be used may be setand/or established according to a configuration that may be received bya WTRU 102 (e.g., from an eNode-B 160). One or more time periods inwhich the resources may be used may be set and/or established accordingto a schedule that may be configured and/or known.

Request-resources may be resources (e.g., time and/or frequencyresources) that may be used for a request such as a request for a TType(e.g., a request for transmission of, according to, or associated with aTType). A WTRU 102 may transmit the request (e.g., to an eNode-B 160) onand/or using the request-resources. An eNode-B 160 may receive therequest (e.g., from the WTRU 102) on and/or using the request-resources.

ACK-resources may be resources (e.g., time and/or frequency resources)that may be used for transmitting and/or receiving an ACK and/or anindication. An eNode-B 160 may transmit an ACK and/or an indication onand/or using the ACK-resources. A WTRU 102 may receive an ACK and/or anindication (e.g., from an eNode-B 160) on and/or using theACK-resources.

For example, a WTRU 102 may monitor a set of ACK-resources to receive anACK and/or an indication, for example for a TType. The WTRU 102 maydetermine that a request for the TType was received and/or that theTType may be transmitted when (e.g., on condition that) the WTRU 102receives an ACK and/or an indication on the monitored ACK-resources. TheWTRU 102 may receive the TType, for example based on, as a result of,and/or after receiving the ACK and/or the indication.

For example, a WTRU 102 may receive (e.g., may need to receive or mayintend to receive) a TType. The WTRU 102 may transmit a request for theTType, for example using request-resources. The request-resources may beassociated with and/or configured for the TType. In certainrepresentative embodiments, the WTRU 102 may, for example before orinstead of requesting the TType, determine whether a request was alreadymade (e.g., by another WTRU 102) and/or acknowledged. A WTRU 102 maydetermine that one or more TTypes have been requested and/oracknowledged. A WTRU 102 may not transmit a request for a TType that theWTRU 102 determines to have been requested and/or acknowledged.

A WTRU 102 may monitor a set of ACK-resources that may be associatedwith a TType, for example to receive an ACK for the TType. An ACK may beindicated by a set of bits that may have a configured or known valuesuch as all ones. A WTRU 102 may monitor a set of ACK-resources (e.g.,for a TType) according to any of: (1) a configured and/or a knownschedule and/or availability (e.g., for the ACK-resources); (2) aconfigured and/or known schedule and/or availability (e.g., forrequest-resources that may be for the TType); and/or (3) a timerelationship between request-resources and ACK-resources where the timerelationship may be configured, indicated, and/or known, among others.

For example, request-resources (e.g., associated with a TType) may beconfigured, available and/or used in a time or time period n (e.g.,slot, timeslot, mini-slot, subframe or TTI n). An ACK and/or anindication may be transmitted, monitored, and/or received inACK-resources in a time or time period n+k where k may be configured,indicated, and/or known.

Although various embodiments are shown with regard to multicastcommunications, these embodiments may be implemented with broadcastcommunications, in lieu of or in addition to the multicastcommunications.

Representative Duration of On-Demand Transmission

In certain examples, it may be useful for a WTRU 102 to know how long arequested or on-demand transmission may be present and/or repeated. Forexample, a WTRU 102 may miss a first transmission. It may be useful toknow when to expect a repetition, for example to avoid making a newrequest unnecessarily.

A broadcast or MT such as a SI transmission may be transmitted inresponse to a request for the transmission. The transmission may occurduring a transmission period for example: an upcoming transmissionperiod or a next transmission period following any of: (1) a requestand/or (2) a page that may indicate that the transmission may occur inan upcoming transmission period or a next transmission period.

In certain examples, a transmission that may be a requested transmissionmay begin in transmission period T1. The transmission may be transmittedone or more times during transmission period T1. The number of timesthat the transmission may be transmitted (and/or may be repeated) in atransmission period (e.g., transmission period T1) may be Ntx and may beset and/or established according to the transmission's schedule. Theschedule for a transmission may be fixed, configured, or otherwiseknown. For example, a SIB transmission may have a schedule that may befixed (e.g., by specification) or configured, for example by any of: (1)a channel (e.g., a physical broadcast channel (PBCH), among others), (2)a MIB, and/or (3) another SIB, among others.

A WTRU 102 may determine the schedule of a broadcast transmission (e.g.,a SIB transmission) and/or a MT, for example, from a configuration thatthe WTRU 102 may receive from any of: (1) a channel, (2) a MIB, and/or(3) a SIB (e.g., another SIB), among others.

When a transmission that may be requested may begin, may occur, begins,and/or occurs in a transmission period (e.g., transmission period T1),one or more (e.g., all) of the scheduled repetitions of the transmissionmay be transmitted in the transmission period (e.g., transmission periodT1). For example, a WTRU 102 may assume, expect, determine and/or knowthat at least some (e.g., all) of the repetitions (e.g., scheduled orconfigured repetitions) of the transmission may be transmitted in thetransmission period. The number of repetitions (e.g., Ntx) that may betransmitted may be configured. A WTRU 102 may receive the configurationvia signaling, for example via broadcast signaling.

In certain examples, a transmission that may be a requested transmissionmay begin in transmission period T1. The transmission may be transmitted(e.g., repeated) one or more times. The number of times that thetransmission may be transmitted (or repeated) from a first time it istransmitted to a last time it is transmitted, for example for a certainon-demand activation, may be referred to as Nt. Nt (e.g., the value ofNt) may be configured and/or signaled. A value of Nt may be configuredfor and/or apply to one or more on-demand activations. The actualtransmission may be set and/or established according to the schedule ofthe transmission. The schedule of a transmission may be fixed,configured, or otherwise known. The Nt transmissions may span one ormore transmission periods.

When a transmission that may be requested may begin, may occur, begins,or occurs in a transmission period (e.g., transmission period T1), thetransmission may be repeated in Ntp transmission periods (e.g., a totalof Ntp transmission periods), for example in transmission periods T1,T2, TNtp. The Ntp transmission periods may or may not be consecutive.The Ntp transmission periods may be set and/or established according toa schedule, a cycle, and/or a pattern that may be signaled and/orconfigured. The number of transmission periods Ntp may be configured,for example via signaling such as via broadcast signaling.

The value or values of Ntx, Nt, and/or Ntp for a transmission may beincluded in a DCI (e.g., a paging DCI) and/or a paging message. Forexample, the value or values of Ntx, Nt, and/or Ntp for a transmissionmay be included in a paging DCI and/or a paging message that mayindicate that the transmission may be made in a transmission period suchas an upcoming transmission period or a next transmission period.

A transmission period (e.g., transmission period T, T1, T2, amongothers) may be represented in time units such as frames, subframes,timeslots, slots, mini-slots, seconds, and/or milliseconds, amongothers.

The number of transmission periods in which a transmission may berepeated Ntp may be indicated by and/or determined from a repetitioncycle configuration. For example, a transmission period (e.g., an SImodification period) may be determined from a cycle such as a DRX cycleand/or a paging cycle (e.g., a default paging cycle). In a non-limitingexample, a transmission period T may be determined from a multiplier M(e.g., 2) times a cycle C (e.g., 8 frames). For the example, T=2×8=16frames. A repetition cycle may be determined from a multiplier R (e.g.,4) times a transmission period T. For this example, the repetitioncycle=4×T. Ntp may be equal to and/or determined from the repetitioncycle.

A WTRU 102 may request a broadcast and/or MT (e.g., a B/M transmission).A WTRU 102 may monitor for and/or receive an indication (e.g., in apaging DCI and/or paging message) of an upcoming B/M transmission (e.g.,of the activation or upcoming activation of a B/M transmission). TheWTRU 102 may monitor for the B/M transmission in a first transmissionperiod (e.g., the next transmission period, for example according to theschedule of the B/M transmission). The WTRU 102 may monitor for thetransmission at a first time the B/M transmission may be transmitted inthe first transmission period. If the WTRU 102 does not successfullyreceive the B/M transmission, the WTRU 102 may monitor for the B/Mtransmission at a second time the B/M transmission may be transmitted.The second time the B/M transmission may be transmitted may be the nexttime the B/M transmission may be transmitted in the first transmissionperiod or a first time the B/M transmission may be transmitted in asecond transmission period (e.g., the next transmission period). TheWTRU 102 may use one or more of: (1) Ntx (e.g., the value of Ntx), (2)Nt (e.g., the value of Nt), (3) Ntp (e.g., the value of Ntp), and/or (4)the B/M transmission schedule to determine the second time when the B/Mtransmission may occur.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of a representative procedure for reception ofon-demand broadcast/multicast (B/M) transmission.

Referring to FIG. 10 , the representative procedure 1000 may include, atblock 1005, the WTRU 102 receiving a configuration, a schedule and/orparameters (e.g., a broadcast and/or multicast (B/M) transmissionconfiguration, schedule and/or parameters), for example, including thenumber of repetitions in a transmission period (e.g., Ntx), the numberof times that the transmission may be transmitted (e.g., Nt), e.g., foran activation, and/or the number of transmission periods (e.g., Ntp),among others. At block 1010, the WTRU 102 may request a B/Mtransmission. At block 1015, the WTRU 102 may receive a page indicatinga B/M transmission and/or a B/M transmission activation. At block 1020from either block 1010 or block 1015, the WTRU 102 may wait and/ordelay, for example, until the first transmission period (tx period). Atblock 1025, the WTRU 102 may monitor for and/or receive a B/Mtransmission in the transmission period, for example according to orbased on a schedule (e.g., a predetermined, determined, configured,and/or signaled schedule). At block 1030, the WTRU 102 may determinewhether the B/M transmission is received (e.g., successfully receivedand/or has a verified CRC check). At block 1035, on condition that theB/M transmission is not received (e.g., successfully received), the WTRU102 may determine whether the transmission is the last expectedtransmission (e.g., based on one or more parameters received orconfigured at block 1005). At block 1040, on condition that the B/Mtransmission is received (e.g., successfully received), processing mayend or the WTRU 102 may acknowledge (e.g., via a B/M transmissionacknowledgement to a network entity) the successful B/M transmission. Atblock 1045, on condition that the B/M transmission is the last expectedtransmission (for example the number of transmissions has reached thethreshold Nt, the number of transmissions in a tx period has reached thethreshold Ntx and/or the transmissions (e.g., all transmissions)associated with the transmission periods threshold Ntp have beenreached), processing may end or the WTRU 102 may: (1) transmit anegative acknowledge (NACK) (e.g., via a B/M transmissionacknowledgement to the network entity) for the unsuccessful B/Mtransmission and/or (2) re-request the B/M transmission. At block 1050,on condition that the transmission is not the last expectedtransmission, the WTRU 102 may determine a time for the next B/Mtransmission based on the transmission period, and/or schedule (e.g.,Ntx, Nt and/or Ntp), among others. At block 1055, the WTRU 102 maymonitor for and/or receive the B/M transmission at the determined timeand processing may return to block 1030.

For CE mode operations in which transmissions may be repeated to providecoverage enhancement, the numbers described herein may refer to sets ofrepeated transmissions. For example, if the number of repetitions for atransmission when using CE is Cl, then Ntx may refer to the number oftimes a set of Cl transmissions (e.g., corresponding to the same initialtransmission) is repeated, e.g., in a transmission period. Nt may referto the number of times a set of Cl transmissions is repeated.

Although the procedures/operations shown in the FIGs. generally providedetails associated with a WTRU, one of skill in the art understands thata complementary process occurs in one or more network entities which maybe in direct or indirect communication with the WTRU. For example, aneNode-B or a gNB may be in communication (e.g., direct communication)with the WTRU to implement the procedures/operations associated with thedisclosure herein.

Representative Consideration for Beamformed System

One or more of the following may be made or done on a beam, beam-pair(e.g., beam-pair link), and/or beam group basis: request for atransmission or a TType, paging, monitoring for a page, transmission(e.g., a B/M transmission and/or a TType), reception of a transmission,activation of a transmission, acknowledging a request for a transmissionor for a TType, and/or configuration of a schedule and/or parameters,among others.

For example, an eNode-B 160 or another network entity may transmitand/or broadcast/multicast via a beam, beam-pair and/or beam group anyof: (1) a page; (2) an activation of a B/M transmission; (3) a B/Mtransmission and/or a TType; (4) a configuration of a schedule and/or ofone or more parameters (e.g., B/M parameters); and/or (5) an ACK orindication, e.g., in response to a request for a transmission and/or aTType, among others.

As other examples, a WTRU 102 may monitor for and/or receive via a beam,beam-pair and/or beam group any of: (1) a page; (2) an activation of aB/M transmission; (3) a transmission (e.g., a B/M transmission and/or aTType); (4) a configuration of a schedule and/or one or more parameters(e.g., B/M parameters); and/or (5) an ACK or indication, e.g., inresponse to a request for a transmission or a TType, among others.

In other examples, a WTRU 102 may transmit and/or an eNode-B 160 oranother network entity may receive via a beam, beam-pair and/or beamgroup any of: (1) a request for a transmission (e.g., a B/Mtransmission) or a TType and/or (2) an ACK or NACK for a B/Mtransmission or a TType, among others.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a preamble based NACKand/or DTX indication operation.

Referring to FIG. 11 , the preamble based NACK and/or DTX indicationoperation 1100 may include, at block 1105, the WTRU 102 receiving aconfiguration (e.g., of one or more preambles and/or TF resources thatmay be used for NACK and/or DTX). At block 1110, the WTRU 102 mayreceive a schedule for a broadcast or multicast (B/M) transmission. Atblock 1115, the WTRU 102 may receive a page indicating that (and/orwhen) the B/M transmission will or is to start or begin. For example, anetwork entity (e.g., an eNode-B or gNB) may provide and/or use a paging(e.g., regular paging) downlink control information (DCI) (e.g., toindicate a start of a transmission such as a B/M transmission or anupcoming B/M transmission), for example to avoid battery drain/waste dueto monitoring of a control or data channel before the start of thetransmission. At block 1120, the WTRU 102 may monitor for the controlchannel (e.g., and/or an appropriate signal) associated with the B/Mtransmission. At block 1125, the WTRU 102 may attempt to receive thedata channel and/or the data block/data blocks indicated by the controlchannel, the appropriate signal and/or the schedule. At block 1130, oncondition that the WTRU 102 received (e.g., successfully received) thecontrol channel and/or data block/data blocks, processing may end (e.g.,no ACKs or NACKs may be sent/indicated by the WTRU 102 to the network,for example a network entity).

On condition that the WTRU 102 received (e.g., unsuccessfully received)the control channel and/or data block/data blocks, at block 1135, theWTRU 102 may determine the one or more SNs of the unsuccessfullyreceived data block/data blocks. At block 1140, the WTRU may determinethe NACK preamble and/or one or more TF resources to indicate a NACK (orthe NACK for the determined one or more SNs).

On condition that the WTRU 102 did not receive (e.g., has no receptionof) the control channel or the data block/data blocks, at block 1145,the WTRU 102 may determine the one or more SNs associated with one ormore missed data blocks (e.g., skipped SNs associated with missed datablocks).

In certain representative embodiments, the WTRU 102 may distinguish aNACK indication from a DTX indication (e.g., using predetermined,configured, or signaled preambles and/or preamble types and/or TFresources). For example, a network entity may determine, configure,and/or signal that a first set of preambles and/or TF resources may beassociated with a DTX indication and a second set of preambles and/or TFresources may be associated with a NACK indication.

In certain representative embodiments, the WTRU 102 may distinguish aNACK indication for a particular SN from a NACK indication for anotherSN using different preambles and/or TF resources (e.g., predetermined,configured and/or signaled). For example, a network entity maydetermine, configure and/or signal that a first preamble and/or a firstsubset of TF resources of a set of preambles and/or TF resources may beassociated with a first SN for the NACK indication and a second preambleand/or a second subset of TF resource of the set of preambles and/or TFresources may be associated with a second SN for the NACK indication.

In certain representative embodiments, the WTRU 102 may distinguish aDTX indication for a particular SN from a DTX indication for another SNusing different preambles and/or TF resources (e.g., predetermined,configured and/or signaled). For example, a network entity maydetermine, configure and/or signal that a first preamble and/or a firstsubset of TF resources of a set of preambles and/or TF resources may beassociated with a first SN for the DTX indication and a second preambleand/or a second subset of TF resources of the set of preambles and/or TFresources may be associated with a second SN for the DTX indication.

In certain representative embodiments, at blocks 1135 and 1145, the WTRUmay use one or more SNs and/or a schedule (e.g., the transmissionschedule such as the B/M transmission schedule) to detect a missedtransport block (TB) or at least one missed TB within a block or set ofTBs.

On condition that the WTRU 102 determines that there are one or moremissed blocks (e.g., one or more missed or skipped SNs), at block 1150,the WTRU may determine a DTX preamble and/or one or more TF resources toindicate the DTX of the one or more missed blocks.

On condition that the WTRU 102 determines that there are no missedblocks, at block 1155, processing may stop at block 1155 (e.g., the WTRUmay not provide a NACK indication or a DTX indication).

Processing may move from either block 1140 or block 1150 to block 1160and the WTRU 102 may send the determined preamble on the determined TFresource or resources. In certain representative embodiments, thedetermination of the preamble and/or the TF resources may be based onthe CE level.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a representative method of managing amulticast communication to a multicast group implemented by a respectiveWTRU 102 of WTRUs 102 in the multicast group.

Referring to FIG. 12 , the representative method 1200 may include, atblock 1210, the respective WTRU 102 of the multicast group receiving aconfiguration. The configuration may indicate a PRACH preamble to usefor a NACK response to a MT to the respective WTRU 102. At block 1220,the respective WTRU 102 may monitor for data of the MT. At block 1230,the respective WTRU 102 may determine whether the monitored for data wassuccessfully received. On condition that the monitored for data was notsuccessfully received, at block 1240, the respective WTRU 102 may sendthe preamble (e.g., a PRACH preamble or a sequence (e.g., one sequenceof a set of orthogonal sequences) indicated by the receivedconfiguration.

Although the use of PRACH preambles is disclosed herein, in variousembodiments, it is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art thatother preambles (e.g., sequences, for example orthogonal sequences whichare known to the transmitter and receiver) are possible and as suchPRACH preambles are only one non-limiting example. In certainrepresentative embodiments, the preambles may be PRACH preambles orother types of preambles. In certain representative embodiments, thepreambles may be sequences, for example orthogonal sequences that may beconfigured and/or known.

In certain representative embodiments the preambles may be PRACHpreambles or sequences, RACH preambles or sequences and/or random accesspreambles or sequences. PRACH and RACH may be used interchangeablyherein. PRACH preamble, RACH preamble and random access preamble may beused interchangeably herein.

In certain representative embodiments, the received configuration mayfurther indicate TF resources to be used for sending the PRACH preambleand/or the sending of the PRACH preamble may include sending the PRACHpreamble using the TF resources indicated in the received configuration.

In certain representative embodiments, the data may be obtained from aset of one or more data blocks and/or the WTRU 102 may determine whetherany one respective data block of the monitored for data was notsuccessfully received based on an error checking operation associatedwith the respective data block.

In certain representative embodiments, the data may be obtained from aset of one or more data blocks and/or on condition that a respectivedata block (e.g., each respective data block) of the monitored for datawas successfully received based on a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) ofthe respective data block, the WTRU 102 may provide the data obtainedfrom the set of data blocks of the MT to a higher layer.

In certain representative embodiments, the data may be obtained from aset of one or more data blocks and the WTRU 102 may determine which oneor which ones of the set of one or more data blocks of the monitored fordata were not successfully received. For example, the sending of thePRACH preamble indicated by the received configuration may include theWTRU 102 sending the PRACH preamble that may correspond to, indicate, orinclude an indication of the data block or the data blocks of themonitored for data that were not successfully received.

In certain representative embodiments, the WTRU 102 may determine (e.g.,via the physical layer) a sequence number for each data block notsuccessfully received. For example, the WTRU 102 may determine, usingthe determined sequence numbers, one or more sequence numbers associatedwith a missing and/or skipped data block or missing and/or skipped datablocks, as a missing or skipped sequence number or missing or skippedsequence numbers.

In certain representative embodiments, the WTRU 102 may send the PRACHpreamble that may correspond to, indicate, or include an indication ofthe missing or skipped sequence number or missing or skipped sequencenumbers.

In certain representative embodiments, the WTRU 102 may determine a CElevel associated with at least one of the WTRU 102, the monitored data,and/or the transmission of the PRACH preamble. For example, the WTRU 102may determine the PRACH preamble and/or PRACH TF resource according tothe determined CE level.

In certain representative embodiments, the configuration may indicate aset of one or more PRACH preambles and/or a set of one or more TFresources to be used for sending the one or more PRACH preambles.

In certain representative embodiments, the WTRU 102 may: (1) select onePRACH preamble from the set of one or more PRACH preambles and at leastone TF resource of the set of one or more TF resources based on any of:(i) a portion of the MT not being successfully received; and/or (ii) aCE level; and/or (2) send the selected preamble using the selected atleast one TF resource.

In certain representative embodiments, the WTRU 102 may receive aschedule for the MT; and/or on condition that the WTRU 102 is in idlemode, may wake up based on the received schedule to monitor for the dataof the MT.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a representative method of managing amulticast communication of a multicast group including a plurality ofWTRUs.

Referring to FIG. 13 , the representative method 1300 may include, atblock 1310, a network entity (NW) (e.g., an eNode-B 160, a gNB, and/oranother network entity, among others) that may establish the multicastgroup. At block 1320, the NW (e.g., e-Node-B 160) may send to themulticast group, a configuration. For example, the configuration mayindicate a PRACH preamble to use for a NACK response to a MT from the NW160.

In certain representative embodiments, the NW 160 may: (1) send to themulticast group, the MT; (2) receive, from a respective WTRU 102, thePRACH preamble indicated by the sent configuration (e.g., on conditionthat monitored for data of the MT was not successfully received by therespective WTRU 102 of the multicast group), and (3) retransmit aportion or all of the MT. For example, the sent configuration mayindicate one or more TF resources to be used for receiving the PRACHpreamble such that the NW 160 may receive the PRACH preamble on at leastone of the TF resources indicated in the sent configuration. Forexample, the received PRACH preamble and/or the one or more TF resourcesused for receiving the preamble may correspond to, indicate, or includean indication of one or more data blocks which were not successfullyreceived by a respective WTRU 102; and the retransmission of the MT mayinclude retransmission of the one or more data blocks of the MTindicated by the PRACH preamble received from the respective WTRU 102and/or indicated by the one or more TF resources used for receiving thepreamble.

In certain representative embodiments, the NW 160 may: (1) establish oneor more data blocks associated with data of the MT; and/or (2) send eachrespective data block of the one or more data blocks with a respectivesequence number that is associated with the respective data block.

In certain representative embodiments, on condition that the NW 160receives one or more PRACH preambles after retransmitting the MT, the NW160 may further retransmit at least a portion of the MT; and oncondition that the NW 160 does not receive any PRACH preambles afterretransmitting or further retransmitting the MT, the NW 160 may stop anyfurther retransmissions and/or portions of the retransmissions of theMT.

In certain representative examples, the data of the MT may be obtainedfrom a set of one or more data blocks such that the NW 160 may: receivethe PRACH preamble including an indication (e.g., an implicit indicationbased on the PRACH preamble itself and/or the TF resource(s) on whichthe preamble was received) of the data block or the data blocks of themonitored for data that were not successfully received; and mayretransmit the data block or data blocks indicated by the received PRACHpreamble and/or the TF resource(s) on which the preamble was received.

In certain representative embodiments, the NW 160 (e.g., at a physicallayer and/or a higher layer) may: determine a sequence number for eachdata block indicated by the received PRACH preamble and/or TF resourceson which the preamble was received; and retransmit the data block ordata blocks indicated by the determined sequence number or sequencenumbers.

In certain representative embodiments, the data of the MT may beobtained from a set of one or more data blocks.

In certain representative embodiments, the NW 160 may: receive the PRACHpreamble including an indication of a CE level associated with (1) theWTRU 102 from which the preamble was received; (2) reception of thepreamble; and/or (3) one or more of the data blocks of the set of one ormore data blocks. The indication of the CE level may be implicit (e.g.,indicated by the preamble itself or by the TF resources on which thepreamble is received). The NW 160 may retransmit the data block or datablocks indicated by the received PRACH preamble and/or the TF resourcesused for the preamble reception in accordance with the indicated CElevel from the received PRACH preamble.

In certain representative embodiments, the NW 160 may send a schedulefor the MT to the multicast group to adjust a sleep mode of one or moreWTRUs 102 in the multicast group. A start time to send the MT may bebased on the schedule sent.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a representative method, implementedby a NW, of managing a multicast communication of a multicast groupincluding a plurality of WTRUs.

Referring to FIG. 14 , the representative method 1400 may include, atblock 1410, a network entity (NW) (e.g., an eNode-B 160. a gNB, and/oranother network entity, among others) that may establish the multicastgroup. At block 1420, the NW (e.g., e-Node-B 160) may send to themulticast group, one or more configurations, each configurationindicating a set of one or more PRACH preambles and a set of one or moreTF resources to be used for receiving the PRACH preamble from arespective WTRU 102. At block 1430, the NW 160 may send to the multicastgroup, the MT. At block 1440, the NW 160 may monitor for preambles basedon the set of one or more PRACH preambles and the set of one or more TFresources indicated in the one or more configurations. At block 1450, oncondition that one or more monitored for preambles are received, the NW160 may retransmit a portion or portions of the MT.

In certain representative embodiments, the NW 160 may determine, basedon the preambles received and the TF resources used for carrying thepreambles received, (1) the portion or the portions of the MT to beretransmitted; and/or (2) one or more CE levels of the portion orportions of the MT to be retransmitted.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a representative method of configuringa WTRU.

Referring to FIG. 15 , the representative method 1500 may include, atblock 1510, a WTRU 102 that may send to a NAP (e.g., an eNode-B 160. agNB, and/or another network entity that may enable access to thenetwork, among others), a PRACH preamble indicating to provide SystemInformation (SI) to the WTRU 102. At block 1520, the WTRU 102 maymonitor for the SI responsive to receipt by the NAP 160 of the PRACHpreamble. At block 1530, the WTRU 102 may configure itself using areceived SI.

In certain representative embodiments, the WTRU 102 may receive the SIvia any of: (1) a broadcast of the SI; (2) a multicast of the SI; and/or(3) a unicast of the SI.

In certain representative embodiments, the WTRU 102 may indicate or senda CE level associated with the WTRU 102. For example, the WTRU 102 maymonitor for the SI a number of transmission times in accordance with thesent CE level.

In certain representative embodiments, the WTRU 102 may send atransmission request including the PRACH preamble on a first set of TFresources, different from TF resources of a random access channel.

In certain representative embodiments, the WTRU 102 may send a TType oruse the PRACH preamble to indicate the TType to request the SI becommunicated via the sent or indicated TType as one of: (1) a broadcasttransmission, (2) a MT and/or (3) a dedicated transmission, amongothers.

In certain representative embodiments, on condition that the WTRU 102does not receive a response to the transmission request, the WTRU 102may perform any of: (1) sending another transmission request including aTType; (2) sending some or all the other transmission requests inaccordance with the TType; (3) increasing power and sending the othertransmission request; (4) setting a CE level higher and sending theother transmission request; and/or (5) setting the higher CE level andreceiving a transmission in accordance with the TType.

In certain representative examples, the WTRU 102 may receive and/ordetermine a CE level associated with the WTRU 102 based on any of: (1) ameasurement or reception of a channel and/or (2) a maximum CE levelsupported in a cell.

In certain representative embodiments, the WTRU 102 may receive controlinformation including a transmission indication that the SI informationis to be transmitted in an upcoming transmission. For example, thetransmission indication may include any of: (1) an indication that aportion of the SI is to be transmitted in an upcoming transmissionperiod; (2) an indication that a portion of the SI is to be updated;and/or (3) an unchanged value tag indicating that the SI or a portion ofthe SI (e.g., to be transmitted or expected to be transmitted) isunchanged from a last transmission of the SI. In certain representativeembodiments, the unchanged SI may be transmitted and in otherrepresentative embodiments, the unchanged SI is not transmitted (e.g.,the unchanged SI or portion of the SI is skipped with regard to itstransmission).

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a representative method of configuringa respective WTRU in a paging mode.

Referring to FIG. 16 , the representative method 1600 may include, atblock 1610, a WTRU 102 that may receive from a NAP 160 (e.g., an eNode-B160) during a paging occasion, a page indicating an upcomingtransmission of the SI or another B/M transmission (e.g., an upcomingtransmission of a SW download or update) associated with a multicastgroup of WTRUs 102 including the respective WTRU 102 and/or some or allWTRUs 102. At block 1620, the respective WTRU 102 may receive and/ordecode the SI or other B/M transmission (e.g., one or more data blocksor transport blocks of the SI or B/M transmission). At block 1630, theWTRU 102 may configure itself using the received and/or decoded SI orother B/M transmission.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a representative method, implementedby a NAP for serving a plurality of WTRUs.

Referring to FIG. 17 , the representative method 1700 may include, atblock 1710, a NAP 160 that may receive from one or more of the pluralityof WTRUs 102, a PRACH preamble common to the plurality of WTRUs 102 toindicate to provide SI to the plurality of WTRUs 102. At block 1720, theNAP 160 may send to one or more of the plurality of WTRUs 102, the SI,responsive to receiving, by the NAP 160 the common PRACH preamble.

In certain representative embodiments, the NAP 160 may send the SI viaany of: (1) a broadcast; (2) a multicast; and/or (3) a unicast.

In certain representative embodiments, the NAP 160 may send anindication of a CE level that indicates the number of repetitions of atransmission of the SI for the plurality of WTRUs 102.

In certain representative embodiments, the NAP 160 may repeatedly sendthe SI (e.g., may send the SI with a number of repetitions) based on anyof: (1) a received CE level; (2) a CE level associated with a highestnumber of repetitions from among a set of received CE levels; (3) ahighest CE level supported by the NAP 160 or in a cell; and/or (4) apredetermined number of repetitions.

In certain representative embodiments, the NAP 160 may receive atransmission request including the common PRACH preamble on a first setof TF resources, which is associated with the plurality of WTRUs 102,the first set of TF resources being different from TF resources of arandom access channel (RACH). The NAP 160 may also receive a secondtransmission request including a second common PRACH preamble on asecond set of TF resources, different from the first TF resources andthe time-frequency resources of the RACH.

In certain representative embodiments, the NAP 160 may receive a TTypeor use the PRACH preamble to indicate the TType to request the SI becommunicated via the received or indicated TType as one of: (1) abroadcast transmission, (2) a MT and/or (3) a dedicated transmission.For example, the NAP 160 may communicate the SI via the received orindicated TType.

In certain representative embodiments, the NAP 160 may receive ordetermine a CE level associated with the WTRU 102 based on any of: (1) ameasurement or reception of a channel and/or (2) a highest or maximum CElevel supported in a cell.

In certain representative embodiments, the NAP 160 may send controlinformation including a transmission indication that the SI informationis to be transmitted in an upcoming transmission. For example, thetransmission indication may include any of: (1) an indication that aportion of the SI is to be transmitted in an upcoming transmissionperiod; (2) an indication that a portion of the SI is to be updated;and/or (3) an indication that the SI remains unchanged from a lasttransmission of the SI.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a representative method of receptionof an on-demand broadcast and/or multicast (B/M) transmissionimplemented by a WTRU.

Referring to FIG. 18 , the representative method 1800 may include, atblock 1810, a WTRU 102 that may receive a B/M transmissionconfiguration. For example, the B/M transmission configuration mayindicate one or more B/M parameters for the reception of the on-demandB/M transmission. At block 1820, the WTRU 102 may send a request for theon-demand B/M transmission. At block 1830, the WTRU 102 may monitor forthe requested B/M transmission in a transmit period. At block 1840, theWTRU 102 may determine whether the monitored for B/M transmission wassuccessfully received. At block 1850, on condition that the monitoredfor B/M transmission was not successfully received, the WTRU 102 maydetermine whether the monitored for B/M transmission was a last expectedB/M transmission based on the one or more B/M parameters indicated inthe B/M transmission configuration. At block 1860, on condition that themonitored for B/M transmission was not the last expected B/Mtransmission, the WTRU 102 may determine a time for a next B/Mtransmission based on the one or more B/M parameters indicated in theB/M transmission configuration. At block 1870, the WTRU 102 may monitorfor the next B/M transmission at the determined time. At block 1880, theWTRU 102 may determine whether the monitored for next B/M transmissionwas successfully received. At block 1890, on condition that themonitored for next B/M transmission was successfully received, the WTRU102 may decode the next B/M transmission.

In certain representative embodiments, on condition that the monitoredfor B/M transmission was the last expected B/M transmission, The WTRU102 may send a NACK response or a further request for the on-demand B/Mtransmission.

In certain representative embodiments, the WTRU 102 may determinewhether any of: (1) a number of transmissions of the B/M transmissionreached a first threshold; (2) a number of transmissions of the B/Mtransmission in the transmit period reached a second threshold; and/or(3) a number of transmit periods for the B/M transmission reached athird threshold. For example, the first threshold, the second thresholdand/or the third threshold may be based on one or more of the B/Mparameters included in the B/M transmission configuration.

In certain representative embodiments, the WTRU 102 may send a PRACHpreamble, as the NACK response.

In certain representative embodiments, the received B/M configurationmay indicate a schedule for the B/M transmission.

In certain representative embodiments, the WTRU 102 may receive: (1) apage indicating any of: a B/M transmission is to be sent and/or a B/Mtransmission activation (e.g., prior to the sending of the request forthe on-demand B/M transmission).

In certain representative embodiments, on condition that the WTRU 102 isin an idle mode, the WTRU 102 may receive: (1) a page indicating any of:a B/M transmission is to be sent and/or a B/M transmission activation(e.g., prior to the sending of the request for the on-demand B/Mtransmission).

Although features and elements are described above in particularcombinations, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that eachfeature or element can be used alone or in any combination with theother features and elements. In addition, the methods described hereinmay be implemented in a computer program, software, or firmwareincorporated in a computer readable medium for execution by a computeror processor. Examples of non-transitory computer-readable storage mediainclude, but are not limited to, a read only memory (ROM), random accessmemory (RAM), a register, cache memory, semiconductor memory devices,magnetic media such as internal hard disks and removable disks,magneto-optical media, and optical media such as CD-ROM disks, anddigital versatile disks (DVDs). A processor in association with softwaremay be used to implement a radio frequency transceiver for use in aWTRU, UE, terminal, base station, RNC, or any host computer.

Moreover, in the embodiments described above, processing platforms,computing systems, controllers, and other devices containing processorsare noted. These devices may contain at least one Central ProcessingUnit (“CPU”) and memory. In accordance with the practices of personsskilled in the art of computer programming, reference to acts andsymbolic representations of operations or instructions may be performedby the various CPUs and memories. Such acts and operations orinstructions may be referred to as being “executed,” “computer executed”or “CPU executed.”

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the acts andsymbolically represented operations or instructions include themanipulation of electrical signals by the CPU. An electrical systemrepresents data bits that can cause a resulting transformation orreduction of the electrical signals and the maintenance of data bits atmemory locations in a memory system to thereby reconfigure or otherwisealter the CPU's operation, as well as other processing of signals. Thememory locations where data bits are maintained are physical locationsthat have particular electrical, magnetic, optical, or organicproperties corresponding to or representative of the data bits. Itshould be understood that the exemplary embodiments are not limited tothe above-mentioned platforms or CPUs and that other platforms and CPUsmay support the provided methods.

The data bits may also be maintained on a computer readable mediumincluding magnetic disks, optical disks, and any other volatile (e.g.,Random Access Memory (“RAM”)) or non-volatile (e.g., Read-Only Memory(“ROM”)) mass storage system readable by the CPU. The computer readablemedium may include cooperating or interconnected computer readablemedium, which exist exclusively on the processing system or aredistributed among multiple interconnected processing systems that may belocal or remote to the processing system. It is understood that therepresentative embodiments are not limited to the above-mentionedmemories and that other platforms and memories may support the describedmethods.

In an illustrative embodiment, any of the operations, processes, etc.described herein may be implemented as computer-readable instructionsstored on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable instructionsmay be executed by a processor of a mobile unit, a network element,and/or any other computing device.

There is little distinction left between hardware and softwareimplementations of aspects of systems. The use of hardware or softwareis generally (but not always, in that in certain contexts the choicebetween hardware and software may become significant) a design choicerepresenting cost vs. efficiency tradeoffs. There may be variousvehicles by which processes and/or systems and/or other technologiesdescribed herein may be effected (e.g., hardware, software, and/orfirmware), and the preferred vehicle may vary with the context in whichthe processes and/or systems and/or other technologies are deployed. Forexample, if an implementer determines that speed and accuracy areparamount, the implementer may opt for a mainly hardware and/or firmwarevehicle. If flexibility is paramount, the implementer may opt for amainly software implementation. Alternatively, the implementer may optfor some combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts,and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/orexamples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will beunderstood by those within the art that each function and/or operationwithin such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples may be implemented,individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software,firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. Suitable processorsinclude, by way of example, a general purpose processor, a specialpurpose processor, a conventional processor, a digital signal processor(DSP), a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors inassociation with a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller,Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Application SpecificStandard Products (ASSPs); Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs)circuits, any other type of integrated circuit (IC), and/or a statemachine.

Although features and elements are provided above in particularcombinations, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that eachfeature or element can be used alone or in any combination with theother features and elements. The present disclosure is not to be limitedin terms of the particular embodiments described in this application,which are intended as illustrations of various aspects. Manymodifications and variations may be made without departing from itsspirit and scope, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Noelement, act, or instruction used in the description of the presentapplication should be construed as critical or essential to theinvention unless explicitly provided as such. Functionally equivalentmethods and apparatuses within the scope of the disclosure, in additionto those enumerated herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the artfrom the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations areintended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. The presentdisclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims,along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims areentitled. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited toparticular methods or systems.

It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for thepurpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intendedto be limiting. As used herein, when referred to herein, the terms“station” and its abbreviation “STA”, “user equipment” and itsabbreviation “UE” may mean (i) a wireless transmit and/or receive unit(WTRU), such as described infra; (ii) any of a number of embodiments ofa WTRU, such as described infra; (iii) a wireless-capable and/orwired-capable (e.g., tetherable) device configured with, inter alia,some or all structures and functionality of a WTRU, such as describedinfra; (iii) a wireless-capable and/or wired-capable device configuredwith less than all structures and functionality of a WTRU, such asdescribed infra; or (iv) the like. Details of an example WTRU, which maybe representative of any WTRU recited herein, are provided below withrespect to FIGS. 1-5 .

In certain representative embodiments, several portions of the subjectmatter described herein may be implemented via Application SpecificIntegrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs),digital signal processors (DSPs), and/or other integrated formats.However, those skilled in the art will recognize that some aspects ofthe embodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, may beequivalently implemented in integrated circuits, as one or more computerprograms running on one or more computers (e.g., as one or more programsrunning on one or more computer systems), as one or more programsrunning on one or more processors (e.g., as one or more programs runningon one or more microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually anycombination thereof, and that designing the circuitry and/or writing thecode for the software and or firmware would be well within the skill ofone of skill in the art in light of this disclosure. In addition, thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanisms of the subjectmatter described herein may be distributed as a program product in avariety of forms, and that an illustrative embodiment of the subjectmatter described herein applies regardless of the particular type ofsignal bearing medium used to actually carry out the distribution.Examples of a signal bearing medium include, but are not limited to, thefollowing: a recordable type medium such as a floppy disk, a hard diskdrive, a CD, a DVD, a digital tape, a computer memory, etc., and atransmission type medium such as a digital and/or an analogcommunication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wiredcommunications link, a wireless communication link, etc.).

The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates differentcomponents contained within, or connected with, different othercomponents. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures aremerely examples, and that in fact many other architectures may beimplemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense,any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality iseffectively “associated” such that the desired functionality may beachieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve aparticular functionality may be seen as “associated with” each othersuch that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective ofarchitectures or intermediate components. Likewise, any two componentsso associated may also be viewed as being “operably connected”, or“operably coupled”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality,and any two components capable of being so associated may also be viewedas being “operably couplable” to each other to achieve the desiredfunctionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but arenot limited to physically mateable and/or physically interactingcomponents and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interactingcomponents and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactablecomponents.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from theplural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as isappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sakeof clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, termsused herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of theappended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if aspecific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such anintent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence ofsuch recitation no such intent is present. For example, where only oneitem is intended, the term “single” or similar language may be used. Asan aid to understanding, the following appended claims and/or thedescriptions herein may contain usage of the introductory phrases “atleast one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However,the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that theintroduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or“an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claimrecitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even whenthe same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “atleast one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or“an” should be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”). Thesame holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claimrecitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introducedclaim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art willrecognize that such recitation should be interpreted to mean at leastthe recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,”without other modifiers, means at least two recitations, or two or morerecitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in generalsuch a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the artwould understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one ofA, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, ingeneral such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill inthe art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that haveA alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be furtherunderstood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive wordand/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in thedescription, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplatethe possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, orboth terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood toinclude the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.” Further, the terms“any of” followed by a listing of a plurality of items and/or aplurality of categories of items, as used herein, are intended toinclude “any of,” “any combination of,” “any multiple of,” and/or “anycombination of multiples of” the items and/or the categories of items,individually or in conjunction with other items and/or other categoriesof items. Moreover, as used herein, the term “set” or “group” isintended to include any number of items, including zero. Additionally,as used herein, the term “number” is intended to include any number,including zero.

In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are describedin terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize thatthe disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individualmember or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and allpurposes, such as in terms of providing a written description, allranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible subrangesand combinations of subranges thereof. Any listed range can be easilyrecognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range beingbroken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths,tenths, etc. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein maybe readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third,etc. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art all languagesuch as “up to,” “at least,” “greater than,” “less than,” and the likeincludes the number recited and refers to ranges which can besubsequently broken down into subranges as discussed above. Finally, aswill be understood by one skilled in the art, a range includes eachindividual member. Thus, for example, a group and/or set having 1-3cells refers to groups/sets having 1, 2, or 3 cells. Similarly, agroup/set having 1-5 cells refers to groups/sets having 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5cells, and so forth.

Moreover, the claims should not be read as limited to the provided orderor elements unless stated to that effect. In addition, use of the terms“means for” in any claim is intended to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶6 ormeans-plus-function claim format, and any claim without the terms “meansfor” is not so intended.

A processor in association with software may be used to implement aradio frequency transceiver for use in a wireless transmit receive unit(WTRU), user equipment (UE), terminal, base station, Mobility ManagementEntity (MME) or Evolved Packet Core (EPC), or any host computer. TheWTRU 102 may be used in conjunction with modules, implemented inhardware and/or software including a Software Defined Radio (SDR), andother components such as a camera, a video camera module, a videophone,a speakerphone, a vibration device, a speaker, a microphone, atelevision transceiver, a hands free headset, a keyboard, a Bluetooth®module, a frequency modulated (FM) radio unit, a Near FieldCommunication (NFC) Module, a liquid crystal display (LCD) display unit,an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display unit, a digital musicplayer, a media player, a video game player module, an Internet browser,and/or any Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) or Ultra Wide Band (UWB)module.

Although the invention has been described in terms of communicationsystems, it is contemplated that the systems may be implemented insoftware on microprocessors/general purpose computers (not shown). Incertain embodiments, one or more of the functions of the variouscomponents may be implemented in software that controls ageneral-purpose computer.

In addition, although the invention is illustrated and described hereinwith reference to specific embodiments, the invention is not intended tobe limited to the details shown. Rather, various modifications may bemade in the details within the scope and range of equivalents of theclaims and without departing from the invention.

1-19. (canceled)
 20. A method implemented by a wireless transmit/receiveunit (WTRU), the method comprising: receiving downlink controlinformation (DCI); determining that the DCI or a message in a datachannel scheduled by the DCI indicates an activation of a multicasttransmission of a first type; based on the activation of the multicasttransmission of the first type being indicated, sending a connectionrequest or a resume request; and receiving the multicast transmission ofthe first type.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the connectionrequest is a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection request or theresume request is a RRC resume request.
 22. The method of claim 20,wherein the connection request or the resume request includes a requestcause associated with multicast transmission.
 23. The method of claim20, further comprising receiving configuration information indicatingtiming information or scheduling information associated with themulticast transmission of the first type.
 24. The method of claim 23,wherein the receiving of the multicast transmission of the first type isin accordance with the timing information or the scheduling informationindicated in the received configuration information.
 25. The method ofclaim 23, wherein the received configuration information is received viaRadio Resource Control (RRC) signaling.
 26. The method of claim 20,further comprising sending a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message indicatinginterest in the multicast transmission of the first type.
 27. The methodof claim 20, wherein: the DCI is a DCI associated with a pagingoperation; and the receiving of the DCI occurs while the WTRU is in anon-connected mode or an idle mode.
 28. The method of claim 20, furthercomprising establishing a connection to a network, wherein the receivingof the multicast transmission of the first type occurs after the WTRU isconnected to the network.
 29. The method of claim 20, wherein: the DCIincludes a system information update indication; and on condition thatthe system information update indication indicates an update of thesystem information block (SIB), receiving the updated SIB.
 30. Awireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), comprising: a transmit/receiveunit configured to receive downlink control information (DCI); and aprocessor configured to determine that the DCI or a message in a datachannel scheduled by the DCI indicates an activation of a multicasttransmission of a first type, wherein the transmit/receive unit isconfigured to: based on the activation of the multicast transmission ofthe first type being indicated, send a connection or a resume request,and receive the multicast transmission of the first type.
 31. The WTRUof claim 30, wherein the connection request is a Radio Resource Control(RRC) connection request or the resume request is a RRC resume request.32. The WTRU of claim 30, wherein the connection request or the resumerequest includes a request cause associated with multicast transmission.33. The WTRU of claim 30, wherein the transmit/receive unit isconfigured to receive configuration information indicating timinginformation or scheduling information associated with the multicasttransmission of the first type.
 34. The WTRU of claim 33, wherein thetransmit/receive unit is configured to receive the multicasttransmission of the first type in accordance with the timing orscheduling information indicated in the received configurationinformation.
 35. The WTRU of claim 33, wherein the receivedconfiguration information is received via Radio Resource Control (RRC)signaling.
 36. The WTRU of claim 30, wherein the transmit/receive unitis configured to send a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message indicatinginterest in the multicast transmission of the first type.
 37. The WTRUof claim 30, wherein: the DCI is a DCI associated with a pagingoperation; and the transmit/receive unit is configured to receive theDCI while in a non-connected mode or an idle mode.
 38. The WTRU of claim30, wherein: the processor is configured to establish a connection to anetwork; and the transmit/receive unit is configured to receive themulticast transmission of the first type after the WTRU is connected tothe network.
 39. The WTRU of claim 30, wherein: the DCI includes asystem information update indication; and the transmit/receive unit isconfigured to receive, on condition that the system information updateindication indicates an update of the system information block (SIB),the updated SIB.